Ex-mayor Tumang’s contempt order lifted, but conditional

MANILA, Philippines — The House Quad Committee lifted the contempt order issued to dismissed Mexico, Pampanga Mayor Teddy Tumang, on the condition that he provides truthful answers in future hearings.

Before the four-committee panel suspended its probe on the illegal drug trade and offshore scam hubs on Wednesday, November 27, they received a letter from Tumang appealing for reconsideration of the contempt order against him.

Rep. Joseph Stephen "Caraps" Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist), who had moved to cite Tumang in contempt, read the letter aloud. In it, Tumang apologized and assured the panel of his full cooperation in future hearings.

He explained that he had no "willful intent to refuse to answer" and appealed for the lifting of his contempt order, which included a penalty of detention, citing "humanitarian and medical reasons."

Tumang disclosed that he has diabetes and that the House physician said his blood pressure was "not good."

Considering these reasons as justified, Paduano moved to lift the contempt order but clarified that it would be "conditional."

"I just want to make it clear that conditional po ang lifting natin. My motion will be conditional that in the next hearing, Mr. Tumang should be present. And at the same time, he will truthfully answer all the questions that will be raised by the members of this committee," he said. 

At the 12th hearing, the committee cited Tumang in contempt for "lying" about his closeness with Chinese nationals linked to alleged illegal land deals. The dismissed mayor repeatedly changed his answers, appearing inconsistent and confused.

House lawmakers can cite a resource person or witness in contempt if they determine that the individual is lying, evasive, disrespectful, refusing to attend hearings without legal excuse or provide relevant documentary evidence.

RELATED: Ex-mayor Tumang cited in contempt, 'lies' about ties to Chinese nationals involved in illegal land deals  

After answering a few questions about when and where he met Willie Ong and Aedy Tai Yang, the Chinese incorporators of Empire 999 Realty Corp., and how many times they had met, Tumang expressed that he could no longer respond as he was feeling