THE House Quad Comm on Thursday ordered the arrest of Police Col. Hector Grijaldo after citing him in contempt for failing to attend its hearings for the fourth time, despite multiple invitations and medical evaluations indicating he was fit to appear.
Grijaldo, a resource person in the committee’s inquiry, has not returned since his appearance in the Senate, where he accused two Quad Comm leaders of coercing him to corroborate former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma’s testimony about an alleged reward system during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Quad Comm co-chairs Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. denied the accusations, calling them fabrications.
Grijaldo claimed he was recovering from a “rotator cuff syndrome” operation, but lawmakers expressed skepticism.
Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Pammy Zamora, exasperated by Grijaldo’s repeated absences, moved to cite him in contempt.
“Sorry, Mr. Chair. I think we’ve given him, what’s his name? Col. Hector Grijaldo, enough leeway. Sobrang bait na natin sa kanya and I think it’s the right time to make an appropriate motion. Sumosobra na siya,” Zamora said.
“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 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.
“So there is a motion to detain Col. Hector Grijaldo in the detention facility of the House of Representatives until the Quad Comm terminates its committee hearing. Is there any second? Duly seconded. Any objections? Hearing none, the motion is approved,” Barbers declared.
Police Col. Dominic Guevara, chief of the PNP General Hospital, provided an update on Grijaldo’s medical status.
According to Guevara, a medical evaluation was done on Dec. 3 for Grijaldo, who is currently confined at a Pasig health facility, and a PNP medical team conducted the assessment on Dec. 5.
Police Lt. Col. Lionel Garcia, chief of the Orthopedic Department, elaborated on the findings.
“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,” Garcia said.
However, Garcia clarified, “On my orthopedic point of view, the patient may be able to attend this hearing but depende po ‘yan kung papayagan siya ng kanyang attending doctor. Hindi po kasi namin nakita ‘yung kanyang medical record, which is hindi kami pinayagan ng hospital.”
Lawmakers expressed doubts over Grijaldo’s justification for his absences.
“Dalawang knee surgeries na ang pinagdaanan ko, MTL and ACL,” Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said, referring to meniscotibial ligament and anterior cruciate ligament. “After my surgery, nag-bike na po ako kaagad. At pinalakad na po ako ng doktor.”
“Hindi po ito hinihiga. ‘Pag hiniga mo ‘yan, lalo kang mahihirapan. Baka tatawanan po tayo ng mga doktor sa mga reason na ganyan,” Gonzales added.
It was revealed during the hearing that Grijaldo is facing an administrative case for neglect of duty after repeatedly failing to attend legislative hearings.
“Last November 26, the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management informed us that they are currently conducting a pre-charge investigation and admin case of neglect of duty regarding his absence last November 7,” said Police Col. Rowena Acosta, chief of the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
“When he again failed to appear on November 27, another notice to explain was issued, and the case was referred to the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management,” she added.
The PNP disclosed that Grijaldo was given 10 days to submit a counter-affidavit as part of the pre-charge evaluation.
Lawmakers sought clarification on whether multiple absences would lead to additional charges.
The PNP confirmed that each absence counts as a separate instance of neglect of duty, potentially compounding Grijaldo’s case.
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