Ex-PAMPANGA TOWN MAYOR FREED FROM HOUSE’ DETENTION

HOUSE leaders decided to release former Mexico, Pampanga Mayor Teddy Tumang in the spirit of Christmas.

Tumang was earlier cited for contempt for revealing information taken up by the panel in an executive session.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales made a motion to free the former mayor during the committee’s third hearing on the confiscation last September by the authorities of 560 kilos of illegal drugs worth P3.6 billion in a warehouse in Bgy. San Jose Malino, Mexico, Pampanga.

“Mr. Chairman, may I move that the committee temporarily release Mayor Tumang, who is my kabalen and kumpare, so he could be with his family during the coming Christmas and New Year holidays,” Gonzales told the panel.

The Pampanga congressman and Tumang are townmates in Mexico.

Gonzales said the former mayor’s furlough would also allow him to attend the wedding this week of one of his children and would also help the mayor recover from Covid-19, which he has contracted during his detention at the House premises.

“He should just isolate himself at home until he recovers,” he said.

Gonzales also proposed that Tumang’s temporary liberty last until Congress resumes its session on Jan. 22, 2024 after its Christmas break. The committee approved his proposal.

The committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, approved the motion of Gonzales.

The committee has cited the former mayor for contempt and ordered him detained last Nov. 15 for revealing information taken up by the panel in an executive session. House rules prohibit such revelation.

Roy Gomez, a former town hall aide of Tumang, was also cited for contempt and detained by another panel, the Committee on Public Accounts.

The Surigao solon informed his panel that he received a letter from Tumang repeatedly apologizing for revealing information taken up in a closed-door session. Tumang also requested that his 30-day detention be reduced.

In the committee hearing, Barbers directed the National Bureau of Investigation, the agency that led the Bgy. San Jose Malino drug confiscation in Mexico in September to produce Willy Ong, the subject of the P3.6-billion illegal drugs shipment.