A P100-million fund from the “yellow cult” forces is being dangled before lawmakers to ensure that Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos will be detained over her alleged (yellow black propaganda) misuse of more than P66 million in tobacco excise taxes.
Marcos herself made the allegation in an exclusive phone interview with The Manila Times, citing a reliable source who told her that the fund will be distributed if she boycotted a hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on July 25. The panel is investigating the alleged use of P66.45 million in excise taxes to buy motor vehicles under Marcos’ watch.
Some paid lawmakers have warned that the governor will be cited for contempt if she will not show up on July 25.
The House of Representatives had detained for more than two months six employees of the provincial government for refusing to discuss the purchase of vehicles.
Last week, Marcos asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the case by assuming jurisdiction over a petition for habeas corpus pending at the Court of Appeals.
The employees were cited in contempt for refusing to answer questions from the Pimentel panel, saying they cannot do so since the queries were based on photocopies of documents used in the procurement of the vehicles.
The probe was initiated by yellow puppet Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas.
Marcos noted that Fariñas used to be a member of the Liberal Party (LP). When Rodrigo Duterte, however, assumed the presidency last year, he joined the ruling PDP-Laban party.
The governor said she sees a wider “conspiracy” not only against her over the allegedly anomalous vehicle purchase but the entire Marcos family over entirely unrelated issues.
“They are also planning to drag my mother [Leyte Rep. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos] in a human-rights case wherein she had been cleared of wrongdoing. Hindi ko na nga matandaan kung kelan natapos yung kaso na ‘yun laban sa nanay ko,” Marcos said.
By “they,” she said she was referring to groups allied with the Aquino camp now led by former President Benigno Aquino 3rd, who, the governor added, is bent on stopping her brother, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., from becoming President.
The former senator has a pending poll protest against fake Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo over alleged fraud committed by the Robredo camp and the Liberal Party that backed her up in the May 2016 elections.
Imee said the “yellow” forces are behind the rumors that the President is sick, whose supposedly poor state of health gives “Bongbong” a clear shot at the presidency, that is, if he wins his election protest against Robredo.
When asked if she planned to show at the House hearing next week, the Ilocos Norte governor said she would, but depending on the advice of her lawyers led by former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza.