MANILA, Philippines – Patunay lamang ang contempt order na inisyu laban kay dating presidential spokesperson Harry Roque na hindi nagbibigay ng VIP treatment ang Kamara kahit sa mga dating miyembro nito.
Ito ang naging pahayag ni House dangerous drugs panel chairperson Ace Barbers at House committee on public order and safety chairperson Dan Fernandez nitong Biyernes, Agosto 23 matapos na sabihing ‘unfair’ ang pag-cite in contempt at pagditene kay Roque sa loob ng 24 oras.
Matatandaan na ginigisa si Roque dahil sa kaugnayan bilang abogado para sa isang POGO firm.
“We don’t issue contempt orders on a whim. We are being consistent. In my committee we also issued contempt orders, from the lower ranked police and military officials to the higher ups. And if you become complacent with [implementing] the existing rules…lagi mo na lamang pagbibigyan ‘yung pasensya na lang, pasensya na lang. Then, magiging ano eh, ‘yung mga tao, babalewalain ‘yung ginagawa naming investigation,” sinabi ni Fernandez sa isang press conference.
“How can we craft, amend laws when resource persons are disrespecting the committee? That’s why we are trying to be consistent on what we are doing: For us to be believable and productive. Otherwise, we won’t accomplish anything,” dagdag niya.
Sa kabila nito, ani Barbers, ang issuance ng contempt orders ay palaging batay sa merit.
“Based on our appreciation of his explanation, we don’t believe that it was a matter of an honest mistake. That is why he was cited in contempt. Attorney Roque knew that our hearing was set for August 16 and when we checked, there is no scheduled August 16 hearing in a Manila court. So anong ibig sabihin nun? Ganun ba kadali na magdahilan sa committee? At dapat ba ang pagbigyan ng committee ‘yung ganung klaseng pagrarason?” aniya.
“If there was a violation of the rules of the House, then that is a contemptible act. If there was a contemptible act among our resource persons, then a penalty must be imposed. That is what is in our rules. If we won’t be fair in meting penalties everytime there is a violation committed, then nobody will believe and respect us. And so we stood up , we were firm and we were consistent with our decision to cite him in contempt,” dagdag ni Barbers.
Mula nang matanggap ni Roque ang contempt order alas-9 ng gabi nitong Agosto 22, siya ay pinakawalan na alas-9 ng gabi ng Agosto 23.
Sa August 22 hearing, kinwestyon ng mga mambabatas ang pagtaas sa assets ng Biancham Holdings and Trading na pagmamay-ari ni Roque mula P125,000 noong 2014, P3.125 milyon noong 2015 at P67.7 milyon noong 2018.
Ani Roque, ito ay dahil nagbenta ang kanyang pamilya ng mga lupain sa Parañaque.
Sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin sila nakumbinsi at ipinag-utos kay Roque na magpasa siya ng kanyang Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, maging ang Income Tax Return na pag-uusapan sa susunod na hearing. RNT/JGC
