House detains PNP general, colonel

MANILA, Philippines — Two ranking police officials were ordered detained yesterday after they were cited in contempt by the House of Representatives for “continuously lying” during a hearing on the unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention and robbery of four Chinese women in Parañaque City last year.

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo moved that Brig. Gen. Roderic Mariano, former director of the Southern Police District, and Col. Charlie Cabradilla, former SPD comptroller head, be cited in contempt.

Tulfo’s manifestation was approved by House committee on public order and safety chairman Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.

Mariano and Cabradilla will be detained for 30 days at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

According to Tulfo, the police officials were “obviously lying” covering up regarding the operation that led to the kidnapping of Chinese nationals Dang Lina, Hu Yi, Ling Langping and Li Huanhuan in September 2023.

The House panel also approved a motion extending for 15 days the detention of six other police officers who were initially cited in contempt and detained in the previous House probe.

They were Lt. Col. Jolet Guevara, Maj. Jason Quijana, Maj. John Patrick Magsalos as well as Staff Sergeants Roy Pioquinto, Mark Democrito and Danilo Desder.