Push Admin

Fariñas declared 'persona non grata' in Ilocos Norte

Article (news)

Randy Menor and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<h3> &#x27;No one can declare me a persona non grata,&#x27; says lawmaker, vows to sue provincial officials</h3><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/06/27/imee-marcos-rodolfo-farinas-2017_1.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. <cite>Composite</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>The Ilocos Norte Provincial board on Tuesday declared House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas persona non grata, a move that local officials made as the House of Representatives continued to hold six provincial officers for their alleged refusal to cooperate in an inquiry that the Ilocos lawmaker had initiated. It is the latest episode in a political war between Fariñas, a long-time Ilocos politician, and Ilocos Governor Imee Marcos, who are seen headed for a showdown in the next elections. <ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read:">	<li>Read: <a href=" http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/06/27/17/2019-election-looms-over-ilocos-nortes-game-of-thrones">2019 election looms over Ilocos Norte’s game of thrones </a></li></ul>Seven members of the provincial board supported Board Member Toto Lazo&#x27;s resolution to declare Fariñas unwelcome in his home province.Lazo said Fariñas did not follow the rule of law when he accused the capitol of misusing P66.4 million in tobacco excise tax funds to acquire vehicles more than five years ago. He also questioned the move to detain six provincial officers for failing to answer questions at the House inquiry.The House committee on good government and public accountability cited the six in contempt for &quot;refusing to answer questions&quot; and being &quot;evasive&quot; at the hearing. The House has <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/13/17/house-to-defy-court-order-to-release-ilocos-norte-provincial-employees">refused </a>to let go of the detained officers despite a release order from the Court of Appeals.Those who supported Lazo&#x27;s resolution were Da Vinci Crisostomo, James Paul Nalupta, Mariano Marcos, Paul Baltazar, Donald Nicolas, Ramon Gaoat and Rogelio Balbag.Board members absent at the session were Fariñas&#x27; daughter Ria, Conrado Respicio, Domingo Ambrocio, and Matthew Manotoc, the governor&#x27;s son.The copy of the resolution will be forwarded to the Office of the President, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.Fariñas dismissed the board resolution, saying it would not affect his constituency work in the province. He also asserted his standing as an elected official and a citizen. &quot;I am a citizen of this country and no one, especially Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, can declare me, or any other citizen of this country, a persona non grata,&quot; he said when sought for comment. &quot;Not even convicted criminals are declared as such. I am the duly elected representative of the first district of Ilocos Norte,and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives,&quot; he added. He said he would file a case against eight provincial officials who approved the declaration. &quot;It [declaration] would only affect those who voted for such as I will file cases against them for damages for the violation of my constitutional rights, as well as for a violation of the Anti-Graft &amp; Corrupt Practices Act for causing me undue injury thru evident bad faith,&quot; said the lawmaker. Parameters of the declaration has yet to be clarified, but Fariñas cited the definition of persona non grata as being ostracized. Such a person is culturally shunned, so as to be figuratively non-existent. &quot;That is what those eight have done to me!,&quot; he said.

The Ilocos Norte Provincial board on Tuesday declared House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas persona non grata, a move that local officials made as the House of Representatives continued to hold six provincial officials for their alleged refusal to cooperate in an inquiry that the Ilocos lawmaker had initiated.

The Ilocos Norte Provincial board on Tuesday declared House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas persona non grata, a move that local officials made as the House of Representatives continued to hold six provincial officials for their alleged refusal to cooperate in an inquiry that the Ilocos lawmaker had initiated.

Fariñas declared 'persona non grata' in Ilocos Norte

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Fariñas declared 'persona non grata' in Ilocos Norte

Randy Menor and RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 27, 2017 07:00 PM PHT

|

Updated June 27, 2017 08:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodolfo Farinas

Ilocos Norte 6

Ilocos Norte

House of Representatives

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.