Ex Cops In Congress Want Ethics Comm To Probe Garin

Congress Can Suspend or Expel The Solon

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – Former police officials who are congressmen will file a House Resolution for the Ethics Committee to investigate a fellow member who disarmed, mauled, and spat a policeman.

Pangasinan Second District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil said that congressmen Romeo Acop (2^nd District Antipolo), Amado T. Espino, Jr. (5th District Pangasinan) and him will be filing a joint resolution for the Ethics Committee to probe Iloilo First District Representative Oscar Garin Jr. upon resumption of the 17^th Congress in January 14, 2019.

 PMYER & SOLONS – From left to right photo is Antipolo 2^nd District  Congressman Romeo  Acop, Pangasinan 5^th District Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., and Pangasinan 2^nd District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil. The solons are alumni of the elite Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. (Photo Credit: Violy Valdez)

 “Alleged grave abuse of authority and in aid of legislation,” the solon, a former 

three star police general, said.

Bataoil and the two solons were alumni of the elite Philippine Military Academy who joined the police force when they were in the service.

He cited that he could not speculate if Congressman Garin will be suspended or expelled with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives as dictated by the Constitution up to his term at the afternoon of June 30, 2019.

“We cannot speculate, we will leave that to the judgment of the Ethics Committee”.

The Committee recommends for the August Chamber to mete punishment to a disorderly behavior of a member.
He said  even Garin had a public apology that what he did was not an affront to the police institution, still the illegal acts were consummated against  Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya, an investigator of the Guimbal Police Station.

The beleaguered congressman and his father Guimbal Mayor Oscar Garin Sr. were criminally and administratively charged by the police.

Iloilo Province Police Director Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, a province mate of Bataoil, cited the criminal charges were for direct assault, grave coercion, grave threats, physical injuries, slander by deeds, serious illegal detention and alarm and scandal while the administrative charges were grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming, oppression, abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the public.

“Well, the fact remains that a policeman is aggrieved and there was an apology but an act was committed. There is an institution that could hear that,” the Pangasinan lawmaker stressed.

Meanwhile,  Abakada Partylist former congressman Jonathan dela Cruz, who was with Bataoil when the latter was interviewed, said that Guarin should be disciplined.

“Importante iyan. There is a way that these people should be disciplined na gagawin mo sa public station. Hindi tama iyan!”

 Disciplinary action taken by Congress against its member is not subject for judicial review according to jurisprudence’s Osmena versus Pendatun. It said that the House of Representatives or the House of Senate is the sole judge of what is a disorderly behavior by its member.

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