House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The joint House Committees on Public Accounts and Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has threatened Cagayan police a conntempt citation over their failed attempts to serve subpoenas to former provincial officials involved in a committee probe. 

The subpoenas were supposed to be served to former Cagayan provincial administrator Darwin Sacramed and retired provincial health officer Dr. Carlos Cortina. 

This was in connection to the joint committee’s probe into the supposed inaction of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the alleged aid distribution prior to the 2022 national elections, in addition to urging the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a fraud audit investigation into the illegal expenditures of the provincial government of Cagayan during the campaign period. 

Cagayan Provincial Police Director Colonel Julio Gorospe told the committee that their attempts were unsuccessful since both subjects were not present at their residences during the delivery of the summons. 

Cagayan 3rd district Rep. Joseph Lara was quick to point out that both Sacramed and Cortina are known personalities in the area. He claimed that he had even seen one of the two recently in front of his residence. 

“Nagtataka lang kami na hindi ito maise-serve, considering na matagal na, there’s ample time for the PNP (Philippine National Police) to serve these notices,” Lara added. 

(We're just wondering why it hasn't been served, considering that it has been a long time, there's ample time for the PNP to serve these notices.) 

“Hindi ko lang alam kailangan pa ba naming tumulong sa ‘yo para lang ma-serve ito? Hindi ba nakakahiya naman sa kapulisan ito?” he stressed. 

(I just don't know, do we need to help you just to serve it? Isn't this embarrassing for the police?) 

Public accounts committee chairman ABANG LINGKOD Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano warned Gorospe that he and his subordinates could be cited for contempt over “undue interference”. 

“If proven that indeed—hindi kayo gumawa ng extra effort (you didn't make extra effort)—we can cite you in contempt for undue interference because this is now the seventh hearing. Pulis pa naman kayo. Kaya nga natin hulihin yung mga nakatago diyan na kriminal, ito pa?” said Paduano. 

(You are the police. You can seize criminals that are hiding there, but not this?) 

“Ilang buwan na ‘to, ilang invitation, don’t put this committee in a position that I will personally motu proprio move for an investigation…Tignan natin sino mapahiya. Don’t force me and my committee! [Gorospe], I warn you because again pag lumabas, pasok kayo sa undue interference, I will not hesitate, I will not even think twice to move to cite you in contempt,” he added. 

(It's been several months, several invitations, don't put this committee in a position where I will personally motu proprio move for an investigation... Let's see who will be embarrassed. Don't force me and my committee!  [Gorospe], I warn you because again when it comes out that you can be cited in undue interference, I will not hesitate, I will not even think twice to move to cite you in contempt.) 

The joint committee has issued a show cause order to Sacramed, Cortina, and officials of Bombo Radyo Tuguegarao to explain why they should not be cited for contempt due to their continued absence from the committee probe. --Dexter Barro II