Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) — The House of Representatives on Thursday ordered the detention of Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba after he failed to attend numerous hearings on his alleged public spending violation during the election period.

With no objection, the House joint panel approved Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop’s motion for Mamba’s detention during the House committee on public accounts, and committee on suffrage and electoral reforms hearing.

\”May we respectfully move that Governor Mamba be detained pursuant to our rules and be meted out the penalty that is supposed to be meted out pursuant to our rules?\” Acop asked.

According to Acop, the governor failed to attend hearings for the past three months. Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong echoed Acop’s motion, adding that the committee gave Mamba enough chances to present himself.

\”If individuals continue to deliberately fail to honor the invitation of this committee, that is in violation of the Constitution which gives this committee the power to investigate.” said Adiong.

In 2022, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division disqualified Mamba as a candidate in the Cagayan gubernatorial polls, which he won in May, for violating the election ban on public fund use.

He was accused of engaging in vote buying activities in the guise of cash aid distribution.

READ: Comelec division disqualifies Cagayan governor Mamba

The Comelec reversed its previous ruling a year after citing that it was belatedly filed and no longer falls under the poll body’s jurisdiction.