Cops in ‘rescue’ of lumad in Cebu City warned: Cooperate in House probe or be locked up

MANILA, Philippines — If policemen involved in the supposed rescue operation of lumad students in a Talamban, Cebu City university would not cooperate in congressional investigations on the incident, they might be cited in contempt and locked up.

This was the warning of House Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero during a press conference Thursday with members of the Makabayan bloc.

“Susubukan naman natin ‘pag hindi nagsasabi ng totoo itong mga police operatives na ito, sila naman ang ikukulong natin dito sa Batasan,” he said.

(This time we’ll try that if these police operatives won’t tell the truth, they will be the ones to be locked up here in the House.)

“We can cite them in contempt until sabihin nila yung totoong nangyari (until they tell the truth). I can always move to cite them in contempt,” he added.

Romero also said he will raise P500,000 to fund the legal battle of the “rescued” indigenous minors.

“I’m putting up P500,000 to fund the lawyers of these minors to be given to any of the lawyers and I hope na magagaling dyan para matanggal na kaagad (and I hope they are good ones so they can get out of this),” he said.

Lawmakers in the Makabayan bloc filed a resolution urging the House committee on human rights to investigate the police’s “rescue operation” of 19 minors, two volunteer teachers, and five lumad leaders seeking refuge in the University of San Carlos.

But Central Visayas police chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said the operation was launched after the parents of some of the children asked for authorities’ help.

Romero earlier called on the Philippine National Police to relieve the policemen involved in the so-called rescue operation.

KGA