House lifts contempt order vs cops involved in illegal arrest of 4 Chinese

Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop during one of the House hearings in this photo taken on May 17, 2023. (File photo from a video posted on the Facebook page of the House of Representatives)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has lifted a contempt order it issued against eight police officers who were questioned by lawmakers over the alleged illegal arrest of Chinese nationals in Parañaque in September last year.

Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep Wilter Palma made the motion during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Safety on Monday. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo immediately seconded the motion.

Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, the committee chair, then approved the motion.

Last month, the following police officers were cited for contempt and ordered detained within the lower chamber’s premises after they were deemed lying to lawmakers:

• Lt. Col. Jolet Tutor Guevara
• Maj. Jason Domingo Quijana
• Maj. John Patrick Oxales Magsalos
• Master Sgt. Danilo Lasona Desder Jr.
• Staff Sgt. Roy Pioquinto
• Master Sgt. Mark Jinon Democrito
• Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano
• Col. Charlie Cabardilla

By the end of the hearing, Fernandez said the eight would be released from detention and allowed to go home subject to the order of the House sergeant-at-arms.

Previous reports revealed that Mariano and Cabardillo would undergo administrative disciplinary proceedings after the dismissal of the six others.

Last February 13, the National Capital Region Police Office revealed that the 10 officers were dismissed from service after they were found guilty of “grave misconduct, grave irregularity in the performance of duty, grave neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, less grave misconduct, and less grave neglect of duty.”

Before this, another officer who was also involved in the case — Cpl. Nick Palabay Cariaga — was likewise dismissed from service, but his discharge took effect last January 31.

READ: 2 police officials cited for contempt in probe into arrest of Chinese nationals

In previous hearings, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop revealed that four female Chinese nationals — identified as Dang Lina, Hu Yi, Ling Lang Ping, and Li Huanhuan — were “allegedly unlawfully accosted and arrested” and were brought in room 1811 of Solemare Parksuites condominium in Paranaque on September 16, 2023.

Acop said 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.”

He added that the four Chinese were transferred to the Southern Police District in Taguig, where its personnel allegedly asked them to shell out P2 million each for release after purportedly detaining them for a few days for “protective custody.”