ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee Marcos on Thursday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to order the release of the "Ilocos 6" and direct the House of Representatives to stop its hearing on the provincial government's alleged misuse of P66.45 million worth of tobacco excise funds.
The House committee on good government and accountability will continue its investigation on the issue on July 25.
It has previously held hearings on the issue last May.
On May 29, the panel ordered the detention of six provincial government officials for allegedly refusing to cooperate with the legislative inquiry.
"That immediately after the filing of this pettion, a Temporary Restraining Order be issued...restraining and enjoining respondents from conducting any further hearings or proceedings relative to the investigation of respondent House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability into House Resolution No. 882," the petition read.
Named petitioners aside from Marcos are detained officials of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Government namely: Pedro Agcaoili, Provincial Planning and Development Office chair; Josephine Calajate, provincial treasurer; Provincial Treasurer's Office staff members Eden Battulayan, Encarnacion Gao, Genedine Jambaro; and provincial budget officer Evangeline Tabulog.
In their plea, Marcos and the six officials of Ilocos Norte urged the SC to assume jurisdiction over the petition for habeas corpus now pending before the Court of Appeals (CA).
The CA responding to the petition of the detained officials earlier ordered that the six be presented in the hearings of the House committee.
It has also issued a resolution granting the request of the petitioners for bail and subsequently ordered their release, but the House leadership repeatedly ignored the appellate court's order.
Aside from the said plea, the petitioners also asked the SC to issue a writ of amparo to protect the "Ilocos 6", including Marcos' constitutional rights.
"Petitioners are entitled to protective reliefs for violations and threatened violations of their Constitutionally-guaranteed rights to liberty and personal security," the petition read.
Marcos said she received reports that the Ilocos officials are being forced by the House committee to speak against their will in exchange for their release.
The ongoing probe on the alleged anomalies in the use of Ilocos' tocacco funds is being spearheaded by Ilocos Norte Representative and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.
On June 27, he was declared persona non grata in his own province by the Ilocos Norte Provincial Board over the continued detention of the six local government officials. (VoxPop Philippines)
