Ex-mayor leaks info; detained for contempt

Ousted Mexico, Pampanga mayor Teddy Tumang will be detained in Congress after he was cited in contempt for allegedly disclosing information from an executive session that runs counter to the rules of the House of Representatives.

The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs approved Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop’s motion to cite Tumang in contempt for violating Section 7 of the House rules and procedures governing inquiries in aid of legislation for the supposed leak of its discussion on illegal drugs during its executive session on 9 October.

Executive sessions are confidential and not subject to public discussion.

Section 7 prohibits the disclosure of information taken up in executive session by the House or any of its committees.

“To be consistent and fair with the others who were also cited in contempt for similar violations of our rules, may I move that we [also] cite former Mayor Tumang for contempt,” Acop said.

The panel, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, on Wednesday, carried on with its motu proprio investigation into the seizure of 530 kilos of shabu worth P3.6 billion in Mexico, Pampanga on 27 September.

In late August, authorities also recovered 200 kilos of shabu worth P1.3 billion found abandoned in a car parked at a supermarket in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

The series of massive shabu busts prompted Pampanga lawmaker Aurelio Gonzales to file House Resolution 1346, prodding the panel to probe the seizure of a total of ₱4.9 billion in narcotics, stressing that his province is not a haven for drug traffickers.