THE House Quad Committee has cited Police Sergeant Enecito Ubales Jr. in contempt and ordered his detention for “consistently lying” about the alleged financial transactions amounting to P50 million linked to his first cousin, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma who is close to former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ubales appeared during the committee’s ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) tied to Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.

Ubales will be detained at the Quezon City Jail until the mega-panel concludes its probe.

The decision to detain Ubales was made after the committee chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers determined that Ubales had been “consistently lying” during the proceedings.

During Friday’s hearing, Police Captain Delfinito Anuba testified that Ubales had been involved in suspicious financial transactions linked to Garma.

Anuba claimed that Ubales gave him P30 million to convert into U.S. dollars, allegedly on Garma’s instructions.

He added that this was not the first time, as he had previously converted P20 million and other smaller amounts while Garma was still serving as PCSO GM from 2019 to 2022.

These dollars, according to Anuba, were allegedly sent to Garma’s former husband Police Colonel Roland Vilela, who was then assigned as a police attaché at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California.

Ubales denied all of Anuba’s allegations but failed to convince lawmakers.

Several committee members expressed their belief that Ubales was lying under oath, leading to the motion to cite him in contempt.

Lawmakers suspect that Garma, a retired police officer, played a key role in the 2016 killings of three Chinese drug lords inside a Davao prison, allegedly under orders from Duterte.

They believe her appointment as PCSO general manager may have been a reward for her involvement in these extrajudicial activities.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas