
CONTEMPT AGAIN
FOR refusing to answer relevant questions pertaining to his accusation of alleged coercion, Police Col. Hector Grijaldo has been cited in contempt again.
The leaders of the House Quad Committee ordered his detention to the Quezon City Police District Station 6, situated in Batasan Road, QC.
Lawmakers grew impatient with Grijaldo for disrespecting the panel and undermining its integrity.
Grijaldo, who has been detained in the House of Representatives since Dec. 14 after the mega-panel cited him in contempt for refusing to attend previous hearings, repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination to avoid answering questions about his affidavit submitted to the Senate.
His continued refusal to answer relevant questions eventually led the committee to approve a motion by Quad Comm vice chair Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop to again cite Grijaldo in contempt, citing Section 11, Paragraph C of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation.
On a motion by Quad Comm co-chair Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, the committee ordered Grijaldo’s transfer to the detention facility of the Quezon City Police District Station 6, located just in front of the Batasang Pambansa complex.
In his Senate affidavit, Grijaldo accused Quad Comm co-chairs Reps. Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa City) and Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Manila, 6th District) of pressuring him to confirm a reward system tied to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Grijaldo alleged that Fernandez handed him a supplemental affidavit purportedly from retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma and instructed him to affirm its contents.
Both Fernandez and Abante vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “lies of the highest level.”
Quad Comm lead chair Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers took issue with Grijaldo’s evasiveness and refusal to clarify his Senate affidavit.
“The resource person is out of order, and let it be of record that he is continuously disrespecting this committee by refusing to answer appropriately,” Barbers said.
He also questioned the disparity between Grijaldo’s behavior in the Senate and his demeanor before the House.
“Noong nasa Senado ka ang tapang-tapang mo eh. Bakit dito ayaw mo? Magtapang ka rito. Ipakita mo ‘yung the same candor, the same tapang na pinakita mo doon,” Barbers said.
Barbers accused Grijaldo of fabricating stories to tarnish the committee’s reputation.
“Nag-imbento ka ng kwento and then you speak about honor? Alam mo ba bakit may honor? ‘Pag hindi ka sinungaling, may honor ka. As simple as that. You’re a police officer, and you should have that honor,” Barbers said.
He warned Grijaldo against undermining the panel’s constitutional mandate.
“This committee is not some made-up body. It was sanctioned by the Constitution and approved by more than 300 members of Congress who have the mandate of the people. Kaya huwag mong bastusin ito,” Barbers said.
When asked by Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David “Jay-Jay” Suarez to confirm the accuracy of his affidavit, Grijaldo invoked his right against self-incrimination multiple times.
“I stand by my statement in the Senate under oath, Your Honor, and I invoke my right [against] self-incrimination,” Grijaldo said.
Suarez criticized Grijaldo’s refusal to provide clear answers, calling his claims damaging to the committee’s integrity.
“You made these claims, which dominated the news for weeks, and now you’re hiding behind your right against self-incrimination? This committee represents the trust of the people, and we will not allow anyone to tarnish its integrity,” Suarez said.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also questioned Grijaldo’s use of his right against self-incrimination, pointing out that Suarez was merely reading portions of the affidavit, a public document.
“Nobody’s asking you any criminal questions here. How can you incriminate yourself when you actually signed this affidavit? This is a public document, and you must confirm or deny your own statements,” Adiong said.
Acop echoed Adiong’s concerns, emphasizing Grijaldo’s duty as a former investigator to understand proper invocation of the right against self-incrimination.