Photo credit: Congress PH

In the final hearing of the House Quad Committee this year, several personalities breathed a sigh of relief as their contempt orders were officially lifted.

Co-chair Joseph Stephen Paduano made the motion to drop the contempt order against Cassandra Ong, an incorporator and representative of Whirlwind Corporation and Lucky South 99. This came after the House medical services confirmed that Ong is suffering from a medical condition. As a result, Ong is now set to be released from detention at the Correctional Institution for Women.

Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, or Guo Hua Ping, also had her contempt order lifted. Guo remains in detention, however, as she faces separate legal cases. The same leniency was granted to Tony Yang, who is currently confined in a hospital in Taguig.

In a gesture described as "for the spirit of Christmas," the committee also lifted the contempt order against Police Major Leo Laraga. Laraga previously served the search warrant in the case of former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Despite these developments, lead chair Robert Ace Barbers made it clear that not everyone will enjoy such clemency. The committee’s contempt and arrest order against former Secretary Harry Roque remain firmly in place.

While the year wraps up with some breathing room for a few, it seems the committee's pursuit of accountability is far from over.