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

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

MANILA, Philippines — The contempt order issued by a panel in the House of Representatives against eight police officers has been lifted.

The cops were previously questioned by lawmakers in relation to the alleged illegal arrest of four Chinese in Paranaque city in September last year.

Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Representative Wilter Palma made the motion during the public order and safety committee hearing on Monday.

ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo immediately seconded the move.

Subsequently, committee chairman and Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez approved the motion.

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

Lieutenant Colonel Jolet Tutor Guevara

Major Jason Domingo Quijana

Major John Patrick Oxales Magsalos

Master Sergeant Danilo Lasona Desder Jr.

Staff Sergeant Roy Pioquinto

Police Master Sergeant Mark Jinon Democrito

Brigadier General Roderick Mariano

Colonel 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 Mariano and Cabardillo would undergo administrative disciplinary proceedings after the dismissal of the six others.

On February 13, the National Capital Region Police Office revealed the six officers, along with four others, were dismissed from service.

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.”

Prior to this, another officer who was also involved in the case — Police Corporal Nick Palabay Cariaga — was likewise dismissed from service.

His discharge took effect on January 31.

In previous hearings, Antipolo 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop revealed four female Chinese were “allegedly unlawfully

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