For skipping probe

House panel cites Imee’s boyfriend in contempt

MANILA - A House panel on Monday, October 9, cited the boyfriend of Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos in contempt after he repeatedly ignored subpoenas to attend the congressional hearings into Ilocos Norte’s acquisition of P66.45 million worth motor vehicles in 2011 to 2012.

At the hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability Monday, Pampanga Representative Mark Pablo Bondoc moved to cite businessman Mark Chua and several others in contempt for snubbing the summons of the panel.

Aside from Chua, also cited in contempt are Gilbert Suribas, the Vice President of Granstar Motors where the multicabs and mini-trucks were purchased and Irene Mendoza, the personal secretary of Chua.

At a press conference after the hearing into the matter, Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, chair of the committee, said they will seek the assistance of the Singaporean government for the arrest of Chua.

This was after they have learned from the Bureau of Immigration that the businessman had left the country last July 15.

“We have cited him in contempt and subsequently a warrant of arrest will be issued, then he will be a fugitive,” said Pimentel. “Meaning ‘pag tumapak siya sa Pilipinas, it is incumbent upon us to arrest him.”

Pimentel believes that Chua’s flight is a sign of guilt.

“At this point in time, the flight of Mark Chua just shows na parang guilty na siya,” he said.

Fabian Go, president of the Granstan Motors and Industrial Corporation, said Chua was the one who purchased from his firm 110 motor vehicles.

Go admitted during the House inquiry last August that he did not know that the motor vehicles were for the use of the Ilocos Norte municipality.

Pimentel believed that Chua is the person behind the anomalous purchase of the motor vehicles purchased using the province’s tobacco excise funds. SunStar Philippines