IMELDA SEEKS RELEASE OF ‘ILOCOS SIX’

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos has called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to release the so-called “Ilocos Six” officers for “humanitarian reasons.”

In a statement, the widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos said releasing the detained Ilocos officials would be a “win-win solution” to avert a possible constitutional crisis sparked by the House’s defiance of a Court of Appeals order.

Marcos said she would formally write Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Good Government and Public Accountability committee chair Johnny Pimentel to appeal the six provincial employees’ release on “my own recognizance.”

This meant she would vouch for the six and make them commit that “they will show up for future appear- ances and hearings of the House committee.”

In a separate statement, Pimentel said the House committee “will set them free right away, once they decide to tell the truth about the anomaly.”

He said the committee will even hold an emergency hearing on June 20 so they could “come clean” on the alleged misuse of P66.45 million in tobacco tax proceeds to purchase vehicles although the funds were meant to benefit farmers.

The six employees—provincial planning and development officer and bids and awards committee chair Pedro Agcaoili, provincial budget officer Evangeline Tabulog, provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate, accountant Eden Battulayan, and treasury office staff Genedine Jambaro and Encarnacion Gaor—have been detained since May 29 for failing to give satisfactory answers.

While the lawyers of the Ilocos Six claimed the House had rebuffed the appeals court’s order to release them three times, Pimentel said they also refused to be served the notices for the June 20 committee hearing.

“We may have to bodily carry them to the hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday,” he said.

Pimentel also said the House committee was “absolutely prepared” to order the arrest of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos if she does not appear at the next hearing on July 25.

“We do not want to embarrass the governor. However, if she forces our hand, of course we are ready to do a Ronnie Dayan on her, in accordance with House rules,” said Pimentel, referring to the former driver of Sen. Leila de Lima who was arrested for snubbing the House’s summons.

The employees were cited in contempt upon motion by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, who represents the province’s first district.