House Committee Issues Second Contempt Citation Against Police Colonel

In a significant development at the House of Representatives, the quad committee has issued a second contempt citation against Colonel Hector Grijaldo. This action was taken during the committee’s 14th hearing held at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on January 21, 2025. Grijaldo, who previously served as the chief of the Mandaluyong City police station, faced the committee’s scrutiny over his allegations that two lawmakers pressured him to support claims of a cash reward system during the drug war under the Duterte administration. Grijaldo repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination, refusing to confirm whether Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Santa Rosa Representative Dan Fernandez coerced him into corroborating retired police colonel Royina Garma’s testimony on the reward system for extrajudicial killings. Both Abante and Fernandez have denied Grijaldo’s allegations, which were first made during a Senate hearing in October 2024. Legal counsels for Garma also submitted a statement refuting Grijaldo’s claims, asserting that no congressmen attempted to pressure him. Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop moved to cite Grijaldo in contempt for his refusal to answer questions related to his Senate testimony, a motion that was seconded and approved without objections by quadcom lead chair Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers. The committee also approved transferring Grijaldo’s detention from the House premises to Station 6 of the Quezon City Police District. Previously, in December, the quadcom had ordered his detention for missing four hearings, citing recovery from shoulder surgery as his reason for absence. In a related development, Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano proposed the creation of special courts to expedite trials of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his key allies over alleged extrajudicial killings during the drug war. This proposal follows the quadcom report recommending crimes against humanity charges against Duterte, Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald Dela Rosa, and other high-ranking police officials involved in Oplan Tokhang, the anti-drug operations. Valeriano argued that such courts would enhance judicial efficiency and complement international efforts, including the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. emphasized the urgency of acting on the quadcom’s report, calling for justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and echoing the voices of affected families.