Imee presses SC for TRO vs House probe
The camp of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and six detained provincial officials pressed the Supreme Court (SC) on their plea to stop the House of Representatives inquiry, set to resume tomorrow, on the capitol’s alleged misuse of tobacco excise tax.
In an 11-page pleading filed last July 19, they reiterated the call for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would stop the “persecutory” investigation of the House committee on good government and public accountability on the alleged anomalous purchase of P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles by the provincial government.
Their counsel, former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza, cited “grave and irreparable injury” on Marcos should the high court fail to issue the TRO in time for the resumption of the House probe.
“Forcing Gov. Marcos against her will to attend an unconstitutional inquiry devoid of any legality is an unquantifiable injury. It coerces Gov. Marcos to attend an inquiry led by her accuser, Respondent Fariñas (House majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas) who has maligned and prejudged her of violation of Republic Act 7171,” read the motion.
Petitioners also cited the public pronouncements of House committee chair and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel that Marcos is guilty of the charges against her.
“Clearly it is the height of injustice if Gov. Marcos will be forced to attend a proceeding that is not only unconstitutional, but also persecutory – a proceeding that condemns rather than hears,” the pleading argued.
Marcos’ camp insisted that she has a “clear and unmistakable right” for the issuance of the TRO even before the House could order her arrest if she fails to appear in the hearing tomorrow.
“Respondent committee on good government need not issue an arrest order for it to commit grave abuse of discretion nor to violate petitioners’ right to liberty. This is because the inquiry has already been purged of legitimacy at its inception and through the actuations of the respondents in the subsequent hearings. Consequently, Gov. Marcos cannot be forced to attend an unconstitutional inquiry,” they pointed out.
“Simply put, forcing Gov. Marcos against her will to attend an illegal and unconstitutional inquiry is a violation of her right to liberty,” petitioners stressed.
Pimentel earlier publicly threatened Marcos with arrest if she would not attend the hearing, even showing to the media the detention room prepared for her.