By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On Thursday, the House Quad-Comm ordered the arrest of PCOL. Hector Grijaldo after citing him in contempt for failing to attend the panel’s hearings for the fourth time, despite multiple invitations and medical evaluations indicating he was fit to appear.
At Grijaldo’s last appearance in the Senate, he accused two Quad-Comm leaders of coercing him to corroborate former PCSO general manager Royina Garma’s testimony about the existence of an alleged reward system during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
In a joint response to the allegations levied against them, Quad-Comm co-chairs Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. denounced Grijaldo’s claims, refuting such as fabrications.
The former city police chief claimed he was recovering from a “rotator cuff syndrome” operation, but lawmakers expressed skepticism.
“Sorry, Mr. Chair. I think we’ve given him, what’s his name? Col. Hector Grijaldo, enough leeway. Sobrang bait na natin sa kaniya and I think it’s the right time to make an appropriate motion. Sumosobra na siya,” Zamora said, expressing frustration following Grijaldo’s repetitive absences.
“This is, I believe, his fourth time to skip the Quad-Comm. Pero sa Senate, wala naman siyang rotator cuff syndrome. I’m sorry, but I really believe it’s high time that with the indulgence of all the Chairmen that I move to cite Col. Hector Grijaldo in contempt,” she added.
Quad-Comm lead chair and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers approved the motion after it was seconded without objections.
As a penalty, Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong moved that Grijaldo be detained at the House of Representatives’ detention facility until the committee concludes its hearings.
Medical evidence shows Grijaldo’s clean bill of health
Meanwhile, PCOL. Dominic Guevara, Chief of the PNP General Hospital, provided an update on Grijaldo’s medical status, citing a medical evaluation that was done for Grijaldo on December 3, who is currently confined at a Pasig health facility, and a PNP medical team conducted the assessment on December 5.
“Upon checking the patient, the patient is awake, coherent, cooperative, and ambulatory. Upon knowing he underwent shoulder surgery last December 2, one day post-operatively, he underwent physiotherapy bedside post,” Police Lt. Col. Lionel Garcia said.
“[From] my orthopedic point of view, the patient may be able to attend this hearing but depende po ’yan kung papayagan siya ng kaniyang attending doctor. Hindi po kasi namin nakita ’yong kaniyang medical record, which is hindi kami pinayagan ng hospital,” the orthopedic department chief added further, raising lawmakers’ doubts over justification of Grijaldo’s absences.
The House panel hearing unraveled the administrative case for neglect of duty that Grijaldo is facing, on account of his failure to attend legislative hearings, which is now part of the pre-charge investigation being conducted by the PNP. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)
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