House QuadComm lifts contempt orders vs. Alice Guo, Cassandra Ong, Tony Yang, Leo Laraga
The House of Representatives Quad Committee (QuadComm) lifted its contempt orders against former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Ong, businessman Tony Yang, and police major Leo Laraga.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano moved to lift the contempt orders toward the end of QuadComm's hearing on Thursday night, Dec. 12.
Paduano said Guo has been detained at the Pasig City Jail. She's facing charges of qualified human trafficking, graft, money laundering, and material misrepresentation, among others.
"I move that we lift the contempt order for Ms. Guo Hua Ping alias Alice Guo," he said.
The embattled mayor, who's allegedly a Chinese spy, was cited in contempt on Sept. 19 for "lying" and "evasiveness" during the QuadComm's probe into the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in the country, as well as its questions regarding her educational background and true identity.
As for Ong, who's detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), Paduano cited her medical condition.
“She is sick," Paduano said, "and the House of Representatives confirms that she is not fit to attend and withstand the congressional hearings."
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, QuadComm's lead chairman, said they already got what they needed from Ong.
"Wala na din kaming makukuha pang information. And we believe that what she has said before the committee is sufficient enough for us to write our committee report," Barbers said.
Barbers signed the order addressed to the CIW and is expected to release her on Dec. 13.
Ong was cited in contempt thrice: on Aug. 28, when she snubbed past hearings; on Sept. 19, when she "lied" about her educational background; and on Oct. 23, when she failed to submit documents.
Yang, meanwhile, is "sick and currently confined at the St. Luke's Hospital in Taguig with a doctor's certificate," according to Paduano.
He's under the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission since he was cited in contempt for "lying."
Yang, a Chinese national, admitted to faking his Filipino citizenship. He's the brother of Michael Yang, the former economic adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Before his arrest in September, his lawyer Raymond Fortun said he was diagnosed with a lung condition.
As for Laraga, his contempt order was lifted "in the spirit of Christmas."
Still, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong questioned why the cop filed a petition for certiorari, a request before the Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision.
"It's contradictory," Adiong said. "He's asking us to lift the contempt order while he's filing at the Supreme Court questioning the mandate, the powers, and the authority of the Quad Comm. How can that be reconciled?"
Laraga has been detained at the Quezon City Jail for "lying" in his account about serving a search warrant against Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was slain in jail.
Espinosa, who was arrested for drug-related charges in 2016, was said to have a gun inside his cell and cops were supposed to look for it.
Laraga was one of those who served the warrant against Espinosa, but it led to a firefight. Espinosa was shot in the head.
