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Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
NANINDIGAN ang mga lider ng House Quad Committee na legal ang kanilang naging atas na ilipat si Lucky South 99 authorized representative Katherine Cassandra Li Ong sa Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) sa Mandaluyong City.
“We want to make it clear: Ms. Ong’s transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women is legal. The QuadCom has followed all necessary protocols, and the decision is rooted in the rule of law,” nagkakaisang pahayag nina Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez, at Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.
“Walang nilabag na batas ang Quad Comm sa pag-utos na ilipat si Ms. Ong sa correctional. Lahat ng aksyon ng committee ay naaayon sa aming Rules of Procedure at sa batas,” dagdag pa ng mga kongresista.
“Her lawyers were the ones who said that Cassy Ong would prefer to be detained in a prison cell rather than in Congress. Cassy should blame her lawyers for putting her in this uncomfortable position,” dugtong pa nila.
Ayon sa mga namamahala sa Quad Comm probe, walang basehan at haka-haka lamang ang alegasyon na sapilitan ang naging desisyon na ilipat naturang kinatawan ng illegal POGO operator.
“Walang basehan ang mga paratang na ito. Our legislative inquiries are designed to seek the truth and uphold justice, not to manipulate the outcome of these proceedings,” anila.
Hinggil sa sinasabing paglabag sa itinatakda ng international human rights conventions, tiniyak ng mga mambabatas na masusi nilang pinag-aralan ang anumang isyu ng pangangalaga sa karapatang-pantao at tiniyak na mahigpit nilang sinusunod ito.
Bago inilipat si Ong sa nabanggit na piitan, tiniyak ng komite na nasa maayos itong kalusugan at ligtas sa paglilipatan taliwas sa pangamba ng kanyang mga abogado.
“Ms. Ong’s well-being is a priority. The authorities have ensured that her transfer was conducted safely and with respect for her rights,” wika pa nila.
Iginiit naman nila ang kahalagahan hayaang magpatuloy ang proseso ng isinasagawang congressional investigation.
“It’s important that we let the system work. Casting baseless accusations does nothing but create confusion and divert attention from the real issues at hand,” saad nila.
“We cannot allow the narrative to shift away from the truth. All of the proceedings have been open and conducted with transparency. Ms. Ong, like anyone else, deserves her day in court,” dugtong ng mga kongresista.
Si Barbers ang overall chair ng Quad Comm at chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs. Si Fernandez naman ang chairman ng Committee on Public Order and Safety, si Abante ang chair ng House Committee on Human Rights, at si Paduano ang chair ng House Committee on Public Accounts.
Si Acop ay vice chair ng apat na komite at chairman ng House Committee on Transportation.
