SC junks case vs House over 'Ilocos 6' detention
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Tuesday junked Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos’ petition over the case of the six provincial government employees, dubbed as the “Ilocos Six,” who were earlier detained at the House of Representatives, for being moot and academic.
SC spokesperson Theodore Te said in a statement that the court “dismissed the omnibus petition for habeas corpus, prohibition, injunctive relief, and Amparo as against the show cause order issued by respondent Committee of the House of the Representatives.”
In July last year, Marcos elevated the case of the then-detained employees known as the “Ilocos Six” to the high court. The daughter of the late dictator asked for a protection order from the high tribunal as, she said, the House has ignored the order from the Court of Appeals to temporary release the provincial government employees.
The “Ilocos Six”—a tag reminiscent of labels for political prisoners—were held in detention after they were cited in contempt for refusing to answer questions on the inquiry into the local government’s alleged misuse of the tobacco excise taxes.
Named as respondents are House Majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas, House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chair Johnny Pimentel and Sergeant-at-Arms of the House Roland Detabali.
The SC, in ruling on the case, junked the plea for habeas corpus as the government employees were already released.
Te also said that the SC did not find that there was grave abuse of discretion committed by the respondents in the case.
“The writ of Amparo will not lie as there is no legal or factual justification therefore in the absence of an extralegal killing or an enforced disappearance of threats thereof,” Te added.
A writ of amparo as defined by the SC “is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity. It covers extralegal killings and enforced disappearances or threats thereof.”
The release of the six employees was ordered on July 25 last year after they responded to the lawmakers’ questions involving the tobacco excise tax issue. — Kristine Joy Patag
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