SC backs CA in legal tussle with House over ‘Ilocos Six’

THE Supreme Court is supporting the Court of Appeals in its legal tussle with the House of Representatives on the habeas corpus case of the six Ilocos Norte provincial officials who remain in detention after they were held in contempt more than a month ago.

At a press conference, High Court’s Information Chief Theodore Te said that the June 21 joint statement earlier issued by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. represents the position of other magistrates and the High Court as an institution.

“The statement (dated June 21) says it all,” said Te.

House leaders threatened to cite Court of Appeals Associate Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonio for contempt for ordering the release of the six Ilocos Norte employees whose families have filed a petition for habeas corpus. Congressional leaders even prepared a detention area for the magistrates.

In the statement issued last June 21, Sereno and Reyes asked the House committee on good governance and public accountability to recall its show cause order on Associate Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonio of the CA special fourth division that ordered the release of the so-called “Ilocos 6.”