House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS partylist Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday cited in contempt the 34 police personnel from the Southern Police District-Detective and Special Operations Unit (SPD-DSOU) for continuous lying during Congressional inquiry regarding their unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, and robbery of four Chinese nationals in Parañaque City last year.
Tulfo was enraged before the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Sta. Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, and recommended the police officers involved in the said crime be cited in contempt.
Despite the video footages presented and the result of the investigation of the PNP, Tulfo said the police officers still refused to admit to the crime and continuously denied their involvement.
“May I suggest, Mr. Chair, that all these officers here present who have been lying to their teeth. May imbestigador na, lumabas na ang imbestigasyon ng PNP. Tapos napapailing na itong ating mga kasamahan na dating senior police officers ng PNP. I would suggest, Mr Chair, habang nagsisinungaling itong mga ito at ayaw pa nilang umamin sa kanilang panloloko at panghuhuthot. May I suggest that we cited them in contempt,” Tulfo said.
“After all, Mr. Chair, yung kwarto natin sa ibaba marami ng alikabok at walang nakatira. So kailangan na nung detention center natin ng tao para malinis ng konti,” Tulfo added.
Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reported before the said committee that 44 personnel from the SPD-DSOU and Parañaque police were directly linked to the operation that happened in September 2023. Of those involved, 34 cops were recommended for summary dismissal proceedings, while nine were not charged with administrative cases for lack of probable cause.
Tulfo’s manifestation was seconded by the majority of the congressmen present during the committee hearing prompting Chair Fernandez to decide on the manifestation.
“With that, sadness in our heart. Alam naman natin na hindi natin gusto ito. But lying in front of us is something na parang it hit us right in front of our faces na alam na alam naman natin ang nangyari. We will do our job. The motion is now approved,” Fernandez said in his decision to contempt the police officers.
The cops will be detained for 15 days as the Congress Sgt.-at-arms was directed to take into custody the said police officers right after the hearing on Tuesday.