MANILA, Philippines —A police officer was admonished by lawmakers on Monday by for bringing a firearm to a House of Representatives committee hearing last week.
During the hearing on Monday on the alleged illegal arrest of four Chinese nationals in Parañaque City last September 2023, House committee on public order and safety chairman and Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez told committee members that the Legislative Security Bureau (LSB) caught one of the officers cited for contempt in possession of a gun during the last hearing.
Fernandez initially mentioned a different police officer, but former Southern Police District (SPD) operative S/Sgt. Danilo Dester Jr. admitted that he was the one who brought the firearm — which was discovered when he was being processed for detention at the House premises last Tuesday.
“I was the one who brought the .38 caliber.That was evidence to be presented before the court,” Dester said when Fernandez was asking another officer about the LSB report.
“Why did you bring a gun into the House of Representatives, when even us congressmen cannot bring guns here — but you, an invited resource person, have (brought) a gun inside the House of Representatives?Ha?Why bring a gun here, even if that is a piece of evidence?For what? Fernandez asked.
“Your honor, I was restricted from the custody of the NCRPO, so I am attending hearings, that’s why I thought that I should bring the gun because I might no longer have the time to return home,” Dester reasoned out.
Dester claimed that he informed the security officials at the gates of the House complex that he was bringing a gun, but Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop — a member of the panel who is also a former police general — questioned why the officer was able to bring a piece of evidence home.
“Saan galing ‘yong baril na dala mo, sa bahay ninyo (Where did the gun come from, your home)?” Acop, a former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), asked.
“Ebidensya po ‘yon sir, na ako ang may custody (That’s evidence under my custody sir),” Dester replied.
“You are not answering my question, where did the gun come from, because you said earlier you might not be able to return home.So where did it come from?” Acop asked again.
“Sa bahay po (My house), Mr. Chair,” Dester eventually admitted.
Dester’s admission prompted Acop to ask NCRPO regional director Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez if such a practice observes protocol.
Nartatez said it goes against their policies.
It was not revealed if the firearm handled by Dester is connected to the issue being investigated by the committee.