The House Committee on Agriculture and Food is beginning to get tough on "Sibuyas Queen (Onion Queen)" Lilia Cruz, alias Leah Cruz.
Committee member, Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. moved for the panel to instruct Cruz to write them a letter explaining why she shouldn't be held in contempt.
This, after Cruz, a self-described agri-preneur, didn't attend the panel's resumption Monday, Feb. 27 of its investigation on the hoarding of agricultural products, especially onions, which skyrocketed in price late last year.
Bearing the brunt of Barzaga--at least initially--was Cruz's lawyer, Kenneth Bryan Tegio, who appeared in the hearing in behalf of the lady businesswoman.
Learning that Cruz had no-showed the hearing, Barzaga gave Tegio around two-and-a-half hours to contact his client so the solon may know where she was.
The lawyer had said Cruz attended a matter of "equal importance", but the Cavite solon wanted to know exactly where she was.
Barzaga even threatened to tap the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) right then and there to countercheck Cruz's whereabouts, based on what Tegio would say. However, the lawyer failed to come up with any information.
"Though I'm still waiting for the result of these inquiries and to her staff, I would like to assure this honorable Committee that my client, Leah Cruz, is still committed to all these proceedings," Tegio said.
"In fact your honor, if it can be recalled, we have been present...since day one. So I humbly submit that there’s no intention on her part to really delay these proceedings," he added.
"Well Mr. chairman," Barzaga said, "Based on the information provided by her lawyer, I would request that the lawyer, within 24 hours, submit in writing where is the whereabouts Leah Cruz during our hearing. That's no.1.
"And no.2, Mr. chairman, may I request that a letter be directed to Leah Cruz why she should not be cited for contempt for failure to attend today's hearing although she was informed. The explanation shall be made also within 24 hours. Anyway, she's assisted a lawyer," the Cavite lawmaker said.
Barzaga said that Tegio must accomplish his letter under oath. "Your honor, we will comply with that order," replied the latter.
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Being held in contempt by a House panel means that the person involved could be detained by the solons.
Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, agriculture and food panel chairman, also gave a stern reminder to Tegio, who had seemingly dodged a bullet.
"We're thankful that you have been attending the previous two hearings but there are issues already that the she has to answer given the last hearing, a lot of questions were given to her, and also evidence that she will be presenting needed by the committee. So just a reminder attorney na, that's not enough," Enverga said.
"I will relay this, all matters to her," Tegio said.