8 LUCENA COPS ‘JOIN’ SUPERIOR IN HOUSE DETENTION

Cited in contempt were Capt. Aaron Herrera, Master Sgt. Richie Yuayan, Staff Sgt. Henry Mago, Staff Sgt. Junar Cabalsa, and Corporals Rainier Zaballa, Allan Abdon, Wilson Bantilan and Rene John Bartolata.

The move comes after their superior, Lucena City police chief Lt. Col. Reynaldo Reyes, was cited for contempt last May 28.

“We are not against the whole organization… alam ko medyo nasasaktan ka (referring to PNP Regional Director RD Paul Kenneth Lucas) rin sa mga sitwasyon nating ito. But we need to eradicate mga ‘bad eggs’ sa organisasyon. Ito ang nakakasira sa kapulisan. And we are dead serious in trying to do our jobs as well,” said Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairperson of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety.

The hearing is based on House Resolution 147 filed by Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez of Quezon province calling for an investigation into the acts of violence, intimidation, and harassment directed toward Rianzales — a witness in a case being heard by the committee on alleged irregularities committed during the 2023 barangay elections.

The committee reviewed CCTV footage on the day of the operation showing men alighting from a vehicle and moving towards the house of Rianzales.

When asked to confirm whether they were the men in the footage, Herrera invoked his right against self-incrimination.

Fernandez cautioned, “Ayan ang hindi niyo dapat ginagawa sa hearing. We are just in aid of legislation. Mag da-doubt na agad kami sa mga lengguwahe mo.”

“You are not incriminating yourself, we are just asking questions,” Suarez said.

The panel also noted that the involved officers were unable to present pre-plan documentation for the purported buy-bust operation.

“Kung ganyan ang ginagawa ng lahat ng kapulisan natin sa buong Pilipinas, mawiwindang ang mga kababayan natin dahil nag-ooperate kayo without the proper documentation being planned,” Fernandez said.

Lucas said the penalty for this offense, grave misconduct, is a ground for dismissal from service.

The police officers repeatedly tried to invoke their right against self incrimination, forcing Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano to move that they be cited in contempt, for “refusal to answer relevant question in this committee.”