MANILA, Philippines — The bodyguard of the Chinese nationals who were supposedly arrested and detained illegally by police officers in a September 2023 operation in Parañaque City has surrendered to the House of Representatives.
During an ambush interview on Thursday, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo presented the bodyguard to Santa Cruz City Rep. Dan Fernandez, who chairs the House committee on public order and safety.
Fernandez’s committee is investigating the possible culpability of 44 police officers from the Southern Police District (SPD) who allegedly took money from Chinese nationals in a condominium in Parañaque.
According to the bodyguard, he surrendered to the House because he saw his photo being flashed during the committee hearing last Tuesday. Fernandez then said that the photo was shown because the bodyguard was accused of being the link between the Chinese nationals and the police officers.
“Ang reason kasi kaya namin nilabas ‘yong ano, kasi siya ‘yong pinaka-kasama no’ng mga Chinese nationals doon sa Solemare, so basically siya ‘yong nakaka-alam sa kung anong pera meron do’n. So kung ano ‘yong mga negosyo,” Fernandez told reporters.
(We showed the photos because he accompanied the Chinese nationals in Solemare, so basically he knows what happens in there, and how much money is available, even the businesses.)
Tulfo meanwhile said that the bodyguard surrendered out of fear, as he claims that groups within the Chinese community and the Philippine National Police are supposedly looking for him.
“Nagsurrender siya kasi nga hinahanap siya ngayon ng mga— hindi niya na alam kung sino kaaway eh, may naghahanap daw na grupo ng Chinese, may naghahanap sa kanya na pulis, hindi niya alam kung sino na kaya feeling niya, mas safer sa Congress, kaya dito siya tumakbo dahil nga may warrant na rin siya kaya sumuko siya dito sa peace and order committee,” Tulfo explained.
(He surrendered because he is being hunted— he does not even know who his enemies are, he said there is a group of Chinese nationals looking for him, and that the police are looking for him too. That’s why he felt that it would be safer in Congress; that’s why he ran to us because he also has a warrant issued by this chamber, so he surrendered to the peace and order committee.)
The investigation of the panel started after former police official and now Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop filed House Resolution No. 1471, where he claimed four female Chinese nationals were “allegedly unlawfully accosted and arrested” and were brought to Room 1811 of Solemare Parksuites condominium in Parañaque last September 16, 2023.
According to Acop, the victims were “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 revealed that all four women were transferred to SPD-DSOU in Taguig, where police officers allegedly asked them to shell out P2 million each for release.
During the hearing on Tuesday, several of the officers allegedly involved in the anomalous operation were cited for contempt for lying before the committee.
READ: Dismissal case starts vs 34 cops in illegal detention of 4 Chinese
Fernandez said they will secure the bodyguard first and present him during the panel’s next hearing.
“So ang gagawin namin dito is i-secure muna natin si, ‘yong deponent natin, tapos hindi na muna natin ke-kwestyunin siya nang sa gano’n ma-set natin siya sa Monday. Thank you for surrendering to us and trusting the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Martin (Romualdez), rest assured po-proteksyunan ka namin dito basta’t you will tell us the truth,” he said.
(So what we would do is to secure him first, our deponent, and we would no longer question him so we can set him for our hearing on Monday. Thank you for surrendering to us and trusting the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez; rest assured we would protect you as long as you will tell us the truth.)
“Meron siyang siguradong culpability sa ginawa niya and wala naman tayong compromise dito kung ano ‘yong totoong nangyari, but of course syempre magkakaroon ‘yan no’ng tinatawag na mitigating circumstances dahil nga umappear siya, at siguro kung ano ‘yong magiging link do’n sa kaso na aming iniimbestigahan,” he added.
(He may be culpable for his actions, and we would not compromise what really happened. But of course we would have the so-called mitigating circumstances because he appeared here, and he might be the link with the case that we are investigating.)