8 Quezon cops cited for contempt during House hearing

Deputy Speaker David Suarez —photo from House of Representatives FB page

MANILA, Philippines — Eight police officers from Quezon province were cited for contempt by a House of Representatives panel, after they refused to answer questions regarding an alleged illegal raid conducted against a congressional resource person.

During the hearing of the House committee on public order and safety on Tuesday, eight police officers, led by Lucena City Police Station’s Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) head Police Capt. Aaron Herrera, were ordered detained for 30 days at the House premises for not answering lawmakers’ questions and resorting instead to invoking their right against self-incrimination.

The questions came from Deputy Speaker David Suarez, who filed the resolution seeking a probe on the alleged election-related violence in Quezon province during the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election.

READ: House probe of violence during barangay polls sought

Alleged buy-bust operation

Suarez revealed that a female resource person of the committee who testified on the resolution’s issue was targeted by officers in an alleged buy-bust operation last May 24 in Lucena’s Barangay Ransohan, or two days after the committee hearing.

When Suarez initially asked Herrera if they were the individuals seen in a closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage moving towards the witness’ home in Barangay Ransohan, the police officer said he was invoking his right against self-incrimination.

“I am Police Capt. Aaron Herrera, I am the team leader of the SDEU of Lucena City. I am confirming what you said, your honor, we were the officers arrested last week,” Herrera said.

“So can you also confirm if you are the individuals seen in the video?” Suarez asked.

“Again your Honor, we are […] I invoke my right against self-incrimination, your Honor,” Herrera replied.

When Suarez turned to Police Regional Office-4A officials, regional director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas confirmed that Herrera and his men were the police officers arrested for doing the raid on the House’ resource person.

“So therefore again I would like to direct my questions to the team leader that operated in Ransohan, RD (Regional Director)  would you confirm that they were the same group that were in charge in Lucena City?” Suarez asked.

“According to the documents and the investigation conducted by Lucena City Police Station, sila po ‘yong involved (they are the ones involved) your Honor,” Lucas replied.

Why refuse to talk?

“Then why do they refuse to talk?  Why can’t they admit that they were charged for their actions?  I think that’s a simple question,” Suarez countered.

According to the Deputy Speaker, it is important that the House gets to the bottom of the alleged buy-bust operation against their resource person, because it appears to be a disregard of the legislative chamber’s authority and power.

“You know what Mr. Chair, the reason why this is so important for us is because we were investigating, in aid of legislation, a very important matter, which is violence, and which is harassment that happened in the last barangay elections. And unfortunately a resource person who testified in Congress received the same violence and harassment after she testified,” he said.

“And now are we supposed to accept this attitude and decorum?  This seems to be a disrespect of Congress and our rights and powers as legislators, Mr. Chair.  And these are very, very, dangerous waters for the organization and those involved,” he added.

Aside from Herrera, the following police officers were also cited for contempt for not answering the lawmakers’ questions:

• Police SMSgt. Richie Yuayan
• Police SSgt. Henry Mago
• Police Cpl. Alvin Zaballa
• Police Cpl. Allan Abdon
• Police Cpl. Wilson Bantillan
• Police Cpl. Rene Bartolata
• Police Cpl. Junar Cabalsa

Prior to the contempt order, committee chairperson and Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez along with vice chairperson and Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop eventually asked the seven other police officers if they would stick with Herrera’s explanations.

All of the police officers, save for Yuayan, said that they will stick with Herrera’s version of the events. All seven also invoked their right against self-incrimination.