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Quad comm has no abuse of contempt power
By Nidz Godino
"When you take your oath of office, you swear to uphold and protect all laws of the Philippines, including Constitution…they are lawmakers but they are ones who break laws," lawyer of Cassandra Ong has accused House of Representatives' quad committee of abusing "contempt power of legislature" following new contempt citation panel issued to his client.
According to Ong's legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio, he could not understand why lawmakers do not respect his client's "right to remain silent" even guaranteed under Constitution.
Topacio also charged panel did not follow injunction order of Supreme Court in Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executive Lincoln Ong versus Senate Blue Ribbon committee in 2023, tribunal ruled "if you accuse someone of contempt of the committee, there should be due process; let them explain."
Lawyer made statement after Ong, currently serving 30-day detention at House facility from her first contempt citation, was cited in contempt anew by panel.
Ong was accused of "lying" after claiming at hearing that she could not remember her classmates in Alternative Learning System or ALS class that she supposedly attended.
Committee ordered Ong to be transferred to Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City for 30 days after serving her current detention in House which would end on Sept. 30.
Topacio noted person could not be immediately accused of lying "just because they have different opinion from what they are saying."
"If they say person is lying about something, you confront her with evidence proving contrary of what she is saying," he stressed.
He also stressed that doing so is committing abuse "in manner that is unprecedented in the history of our legislature."
Quad committee co-chair and Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez refuted Topacio's statement, saying actions taken by panel "are made within bounds of rules of House."
"Actions of quad comm emanated from approval of all members of 19th Congress. Each and every member of House was elected by majority of people of this country... we voted on rules of House," he underscored.
Fernandez added lawyer may accuse them of "anything and everything to protect interest of their client."
"Lawyers are hired to protect interest of their clients…we are hired by people to protect interest of the nation," he said.
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