Petition to release Mike Arroyo bookkeeper filed before CA

MANILA, Philippines—A petition has been filed before the Court of Appeals asking for the release of Rowena Del Rosario, a former bookkeeper for the Arroyo-owned LTA Inc.  after she was detained by the Senate last Monday.

In a 24-page petition for habeas corpus, Del Rosario’s husband Rolly, through lawyer Nunilo Marapao, said his wife was “unlawfully and unjustly held in contempt.”

He said the rights of Del Rosario as a witness have been violated when she was coerced to state a matter that is not within her personal knowledge.

“Mrs. Del Rosario was invited by the respondent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as a resource person. Unfortunately, respondent committee refused to accept her explanation and insisted that she say more to their satisfaction,” Marapao said in the petition.

Habeas Corpus is a summon with the force of a court order addressed to the custodian demanding that a prisoner be taken before the court and that it show proof that the person is lawfully being detained. If the custodian failed to prove its authority to detain the person, that person will immediately be released from custody.

Petitioner also noted that the contempt and arrest order issued by the Senate did not have the required majority because it was only issued by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Premises considered, petitioner respectfully prays that a Writ of Habeas Corpus be issued commending respondent, the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, to produce the body of Mrs. Rowena Del Rosario before this Honorable Court at the time and place therein specified and to provisionally release her pending the hearing of the case or at least be admitted to bail; and to summon the respondents then and there to appear and to show cause of the detention of Mrs. Rowena Del Rosario and that after due proceedings be forthwith discharged from restraint,” the petition told the appeals court.

On Monday, the Senate blue ribbon committee cited Del Rosario in contempt and ordered her arrest for allegedly covering up for former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio Arroyo.