TWO high-ranking officials of the PNP-Southern Police District’s (SPD) were ordered detained at the Batasan Pambansa for 30 days after the House Committee on Public Order and Safety cited them in contempt for allegedly lying about the illegal arrest, arbitrary detention and robbery of four Chinese women in September last year.
The panel, chaired by Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, cited in contempt former SPD Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano and former SPD comptroller Col. Charlie Cabradilla on the motion of Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS).
The two were the immediate superiors of the police officers involved in the said case.
“Gen. Mariano, I think you are a disgrace to the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially to the officers’ corps, especially to the high-ranking officers, (because) of what you did.
Obvious na obvious po na nagsisinungaling ka (It’s too obvious that you’re lying). Obvious na obvious po na pinagtatakpan ka (It’s too obvious that others are covering up for you).
Obvious po na pinipili ng mga tao mo sa ilalim, ayaw ka ituro (It’s obvious that your subordinates do not want to pinpoint you),” Tulfo said.
It was Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (PL, Abang Lingkod) who proposed that the two police officers be detained for 30 days.
The committee also approved Tulfo’s motion extending for another 15 days the detention of six other police officers who were earlier cited in contempt and ordered detained at the House: Lieutenant Colonel Jolet T. Guevara, Major Jason D. Quijana, Major John Patrick Magsalos, Staff Sergeant Roy G. Pioquinto, Staff Sergeant Mark J. Democrito, and Staff Sergeant Danilo L. Desder.
“Parang binabastos na itong committee (It seems that the committee is being disrespected). Sir, let us cite this people in contempt,” Tulfo said. “I suggest isama na po ito mula kina Gen. Mariano at iba pang mga officers, para magkaroon sila ng party. Mag-party sila roon hanggang ma-realize nila na nagsisinungaling sila (I suggest that we include Gen. Mariano and other officers so they could hold a party. Let them have a party until they realize that they are lying).”
Police earlier claimed the Chinese women were rescued from prostitution but were later released after they were able to present passports and other legal documents.
Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, a former policeman, said the Chinese women, identified as Dang Lina, Hu Yi, Ling Lang Ping, and Li Huanhuan were allegedly brought to room 1811 of Solemare Parksuites condominium and were supposedly “detained for several hours without being informed of their alleged offense and Miranda rights and were deprived of contact with their legal representation.”
The lawmaker, who is also a lawyer, said the four women were transferred to the SPD-DSOU in Taguig where P2 million each was demanded in exchange for their release.
Last week, Michael Novecio, the driver/bodyguard of the four Chinese citizens surrendered to Tulfo, claiming he was used as an informant by the SPD Detective and Special Operations Unit (SPD-DSOU) officers to rob the victims.
