Prober cited in contempt for lying during Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on public order cited in contempt the Navotas City police’s chief investigator for lying during yesterday’s hearing on the death of a teenager during an operation.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said Capt. Juanito Arabejo claimed that city police chief Col. Allan Umipig did not order paraffin tests conducted on police officers involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode Baltazar on Aug. 2.

Umipig, however, insisted that he gave the order and that two police officers witnessed him doing so.

Dela Rosa asked the two witnesses, Maj. Edwin Fuertes and Capt. Anthony Mondejar, who attended the hearing online. The two confirmed that they heard Umipig’s instructions.

Arabejo “was present when Col. Umipig mentioned standard protocol on Aug. 3,” Fuertes said.

When Dela Rosa asked if Arabejo had heard Umipig’s instructions, the two police officers replied in the affirmative and showed photos of the Aug. 3 command conference.

“So, therefore you are lying, Capt. Arabejo,” Dela Rosa declared and urged Sen. Risa Hontiveros to move to cite the investigator in contempt.

“I’m tired of citing in contempt. You are police officers. I was once a police officer. Why do you lie like that?” he added.

Arabejo was taken into custody by the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms.

Murder complaint filed

Meanwhile, lawyers from human rights group Ideals formally filed a murder complaint against 19 Navotas police officers involved in the operation that resulted in Baltazar’s death.

In a statement yesterday, Ansheline Bacudio, the group’s human rights program manager and representative of the Baltazar family, said the complaint was submitted before the city prosecutor.

“I hope they don’t deny the truth to the orphaned family. We demand the truth and justice that the Baltazar family deserves,” Bacudio said.

Six Navotas police officers were earlier charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, but human rights groups protested that the charge of murder was “more appropriate.”