House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Showing that they mean business, congressmen have cited in contempt the provincial administrator (PA) of Cagayan for not signing the documents authorizing 10 Cagayan provincial officials to attend a joint inquiry by the House Committees on Public Accounts, and on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms last Monday. 

Cited in contempt by the same joint panel during its hearing Wednesday, Aug. 9 was lawyer Maria Rosario Mamba Villaflor. 

The joint panel ordered that Villaflor be detained at the House  of Representatives for 10 days for her "interference" in the inquiry. 

The two committees recently launched a joint investigation on the alleged illegal expenditures of the provincial government of Cagayan during the previous election campaign period from March 25, 2022 to May 8, 2022. 

A focal person in the probe is Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba; however, he wasn't present during the joint panel hearing Monday, Aug.7 and Wednesday. 

The House members rejected the excuse that Villaflor offered for her refusal to sign the travel authorities of Cagayan provincial officers Vita Vergara, Catalino Arugay, Maritel Bautista, Kristine Reyes, Ma. Anita Obispo, Amelia Manalo, Rosario Mandac, Heracleo Dumapal, Roselle Buncad, Daisy Baguisi, and lawyer Rogelio Taliping. 

She told the panel that they had scheduled activities including the distribution of financial and relief assistance for Super Typhoon "Egay" victims, as well as the finalization of their post-disaster assessment. 

However, it was learned that the aid distribution could continue without the presence of the provincial officers. Also, not all were involved in the relief operations. 

Invited resource persons to a House hearing can be cited in contempt and detained if they are deemed uncooperative or hiding something   solons.

Rogelio Sending of Bombo Radyo-Tuguegarao was also cited in contempt, and likewise ordered to be detained for his continuous defiance to attend the hearing. Sending, who is the governor's co-anchor in a local radio program, no-showed the Wednesday hearing. 

Cagayan Mamba was given until Thursday, Aug. 10, to explain why he should not be cited in contempt also due to his absences. A show cause order has already been served to the governor. 

The inquiry, presided over by ABANG LINGKOD Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano and Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, was held pursuant to House Resolution (HR) Nos. 145 and 146, both filed by Cagayan 3rd district Rep. Joseph Lara.