Police Col. Hector Grijaldo Jr. (Screenshot from livestream)

The House quad-committee (quad-comm) cited Police Col. Hector Grijaldo for contempt a second time in a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 21 wherein the Philippine National Police (PNP) official was utterly emasculated by solons.

But it was obvious why the congressmen ran out of patience on Grijaldo, whose demeanor Tuesday was far from what he exhibited during a Senate hearing last year.

"Alam mo colonel...binibigyan ka namin ng pagkakataon dito eh. Nung nasa Senado ka ang tapang tapang mo eh...magtapang ka dito. Ipakita mo yung the same candor, the same tapang na ipinakita mo doon," a visibly incensed Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers told Girjaldo.

(You know colonel...we're giving you a chance here. You were very brave when you were still the Senate...show your courage here. Show the same candor, the same courage that you showed there.)

Barbers, the lead chairman of the quad-comm, was referring to the time when Grijaldo accused Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez and Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. of coercing him to corroborate another quad-comm witness' testimony about an alleged reward system for killing drug suspects during former president Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.

When the quad-comm members grilled Grijaldo on the topic, the latter was evasive and kept saying that he stood the statements he made at the Senate. He also kept invoking his "right against self-incrimination" when solon pressed him for answers. 

"Nagtatago ka sa likod ng right against self-incrimination...Matapang ka lang doon sa Senado kasi may kakampi ka? Dito ka magpakita ng tapang mo," Barbers told Grijaldo, who kept his head down.

(You're hiding behind the right against self-incrimination...You were brave at the Senate because you had an ally there? Show your courage here.)

"Yung tapang mo nawawala eh. Tawagin mo yung kakampi mo (Your courage has disappeared. Call your ally over here), added the quad-comm chief, who slammed Grijaldo for "inventing stories".

As to who this ally "was", Barbers didn't mention any name.

Quad-comm vice chairman, Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop, was the one who moved to cite Grijaldo for contempt. 

The mega-panel promptly approved the motion and then arranged for the PNP official's detention at Quezon City Police District Station 6, located just a few meters away from the House of Representatives. 

'Nakakahiya ka'

Acop, a retired brigadier general, also gave Girjaldo a piece of his mind.

"He's still invoking his right against self-incrimination, which is improper. Even the Supreme Court (SC) says so. You are just telling me your ignorance of the law," Acop said.

"Galing din ako sa serbisyo hijo, pero nakakahiya ka (I'm from the service too, son, but you're an embarrassment)," he added.

BUT FIRST, READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/21/quad-comm-twist-fernandez-abante-volunteer-to-be-witnesses-vs-grijaldo

Abante 'offended' by coercing claim

Quad-comm co-chairmen Fernandez and Abante have both denied forcing Grijaldo into doing anything.

The two took on the role of resource person and sat close to Grijaldo during the hearing. It was during this time that they managed to get a few jobs at the police colonel.

"Kung siya nasaktan, si Congressman Dan Fernandez [sa alegasyon], ako naman na-offend. Sapagkat sa katotohanan lang, nasa mukha ba namin na magko-coerce? Nasa mukha niya," said Abante, who used his left thumb to point to his seatmate, Grijaldo.

(If Congressman Dan Fernandez was hurt by the allegation, I was offended. Because in truth, do we appear capable of coercing? He appears to be.)

"Tignan niyo po yung mukha niya compared po sa mukha namin (Look at our faces and compare it to his face)," the Manila lawmaker added, again pointing to Grijaldo.