• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The congressional inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the procurement process of the more than P1 billion infrastructure and other projects of the Silay City government took a twist on Wednesday (Dec. 18).
City Legal Officer Janus Jarder was cited for two counts of contempt by the Committee on Public Accounts, and would be detained at the House of Representatives.
Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, the committee chairman, said that while he agrees with his colleagues to cite Jarder for contempt, he manifested that the detention of Jarder should start on Jan. 6 for him to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with his family.
The manifestation of Paduano was approved by the committee members.
Paduano, who relinquished being presiding officer to Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, explained that Jarder was cited twice for contempt for lying and for being evasive in answering the questions asked by the committee members.
It all started when Dr. Krishna Barnuevo, city health officer, told members of the committee that they were warned by Jarder during the previous committee hearing not to eat the food being served as it may have drugs.
This may serve as a reason for them to be subjected to drug testing, according to Jarder, she added.
Jarder and Barnuevo were among the resource speakers during the resumption of the inquiry at the House of Representatives.
Barnuevo said that they followed the instructions of Jarder and did not eat the food served to them.
Jarder described the claims of Barnuevo against him as “unfair”.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, who together with Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop moved to cite Jarder for contempt, said that it was not only an insult to the committee, but to the institution as well.
Luistro said that all of them ate the food served during the previous congressional inquiry. | GB
