IN a joint hearing of the House Committees on Public Accounts and Suffrage and Electoral Reforms presided by its chairpersons Reps. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party-list Abang Lingkod) and Jonathan Keith Flores (2nd District, Bukidnon), the panel unanimously voted to cite in contempt Cagayan Valley Governor Manuel Mamba, as well as Cagayan Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Rogelio Sending and ordered the detention of both.
Mamba was cited for contempt on the following grounds: (1) refusal without legal excuse to obey summons and (2) undue interference in the conduct of proceedings of the Rules of the House.
PIO Sending was cited for contempt for (1) disobeying summons without legal excuse for failure to attend the August 7 and 9 hearing; and (2) acting in a disrespectful manner towards any Member of the committee or any misbehavior in the presence of the committee. Deputy Majority Leader Jose “Bong” Teves Jr (Party-list, TGP) recommended the imposition of the maximum penalty on PIO Sending after he found Sending having a hard time answering the question on whether he received the summons for August 7, 8 and 9, 2023. Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Committee Chair Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores also pointed out that uncalled for remarks which were damaging to lawmakers and the institution were heard in a Bombo Radyo radio program anchored by Sending.
Meanwhile, members of both Committees also voted unanimously to lift the contempt charges against Cagayan provincial administrator Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba.
The joint hearing is being held pursuant to House Resolutions 145 and 146 filed by Rep. Joseph Lara the inquiry urging the COA to conduct a special audit and or fraud audit investigation into the alleged illegal expenditures of the provincial government of Cagayan during the elections from March 25 to May 8, 2022 as well as HR 146 calling for a probe on the alleged inaction of the Comelec on the massive distribution of cash and other forms of assistance to registered voters and barangays in Cagayan during the prohibited period March 25, 2022 to May 9, 2022.
