House wants to dissolve CA, disbar 3 justices
The House of Representatives will seek the disbarment of the three Court of Appeals (CA) justices who ordered the release of six Ilocos Norte officials it had cited in contempt. “We will file disbarment cases against them for ignorance of the law,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told radio station dzMM yesterday. Facebook/Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, File
MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives will seek the disbarment of the three Court of Appeals (CA) justices who ordered the release of six Ilocos Norte officials it had cited in contempt.
“We will file disbarment cases against them for ignorance of the law,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told radio station dzMM yesterday.
The CA special fourth division ordered Alvarez to release the officials who have been detained since three weeks ago for their “evasive answers” on the allegations of Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas that Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos misused P66 million in tobacco funds. Marcos denied the accusations.
Alvarez said the appellate court has no jurisdiction over the House and does not have the authority to reverse the contempt powers of a chamber of Congress.
The CA threatened to cite Alvarez in contempt.
Alvarez called the CA justices – Stephen Cruz, Nina Valenzuela and Edwin Sorongon – names during the radio interview.
He said Valenzuela should have inhibited herself from the case, noting that her husband is a former associate of one of the lawyers of the provincial officials, Estelito Mendoza.
“It’s very clear that they are ignorant of the law. I will not honor their order. They are not even our co-equal branch. Even if you read the Constitution, there is no mention of Court of Appeals there. They are merely a creation of Congress. We can dissolve them any time,” Alvarez said.
Resolution 882 authored by Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Pampanga Reps. Juan Pablo Bondoc as well as Aurelio Gonzales Jr. prompted the inquiry into the alleged misuse of tobacco funds for the purchase of 110 vehicles.
The detained provincial officers were involved in the disbursement and procurement of the vehicles.
Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the officials on Thursday and urged the House to “follow the law” by obeying the CA order.
“The Ilocos 6 were employees of congressman Fariñas when he was governor,” Marcos, who also served as governor of the province, told reporters.
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