House issues subpoena vs Imee Marcos amid arrest threat

Governor Imee Marcos during 2016 Outstanding TOFIL AWARDS held in Malacanang Palace, heroes hall. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

The House of Representatives has issued a subpoena against Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos compelling her to attend the July 25 hearing on the alleged misuse of the provincial government’s tobacco funds.

In its subpoena ad testificandum dated June 25 addressed to Marcos, the House good government and public accountability chairperson Surigao Del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel directed Marcos to attend the scheduled hearing and failure to do so is subject to being cited for contempt.

The subpoena was also signed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“You are hereby directed to appear before the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability of the House of Representatives to testify under oath relative to the subject matter under inquiry on the Committee Hearing scheduled on July 25, 2017, 9:30 a.m. at the Conference Room 1 and 2 Ramon Mitra Building, House of Representatives, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City,” the subpoena read.

“Failure to comply with this order is subject to penalty under the law,” it added.

Marcos has vowed to defy the subpoena and skip the hearing for fear of arrest, supposedly upon the instructions of her brother former senator Bongbong Marcos.

Bongbong, a defeated vice presidential candidate, faces possible contempt charges for advising Imee to ignore the subpoena, Pimentel said Wednesday, adding that Imee may be ordered arrested soon if she keeps on snubbing the probe.

READ: ‘Detention chamber’ readied for Imee Marcos if she snubs House hearing

Following the threat by the lower house that Imee’s detention place is already prepared for July’s hearing, majority leader Rudy Fariñas who initiated the investigation was declared persona non grata in his own province by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan.

Fariñas vowed to retaliate by filing graft charges and seeking damages from the provincial board for declaring him an alien in his own district.

READ: Fariñas to sue Ilocos Norte board members for persona non grata declaration

The Ilocos Norte provincial government declared Fariñas as persona non grata as the lower house upon Fariñas’ move detained six of its officials for contempt after they failed to respond to questions during the House inquiry into the alleged misuse of the provincial government’s tobacco funds.

The lower house has refused to comply with the Court of Appeals’ granting of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus ordering the release of the officials detained since May 29.

The refusal of the lower house to comply with the writ resulted in a clash with the Court of Appeals, which was even threatened to be abolished by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

READ: House, judiciary showdown looms over ‘Ilocos Six’

In calling for the probe, Fariñas alleged that about P66.45 million tobacco funds were used to purchase minicabs, buses and minitrucks for the different Ilocos Norte municipalities, even though the law—Republic Act 7171—that imposed the tax on Virginia cigarettes states that the excise tax should be used for livelihood projects and infrastructure projects benefitting the tobacco farmers.

Fariñas is on his last term in Congress, raising speculation that he would challenge Marcos’ anointed one in the provincial capitol. Marcos is on her last term as governor.

The House inquiry into the tobacco funds mess implicating Marcos is setting the stage for the 2019 elections where a face-off is expected between the Marcoses and the Fariñases, Ilocos Norte’s most prominent political clans asserting dominance over the province. JE/rga

READ: Alvarez keeps local execs detained at House in defiance of CA order