QuadComm lifts contempt order on ex-PDEA chief Villanueva

The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on Tuesday lifted the contempt and detention order on ex-Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Wilkins Villanueva.

This happened after the QuadComm approved the motion by Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano lifting the contempt order on Villanueva after considering the ex-PDEA chief’s motion for reconsideration.

Paduano said that Villanueva already “promised to fully cooperate and truthfully answer all questions from QuadComm members.”

“I was the one who moved to cite ex-General Wilkins in contempt and I appreciate his gesture of seeking a reconsideration, unlike Colonel Grijaldo, who resorted to forum shopping,” Paduano said.

Paduano was referring to Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo, former chief of the Mandaluyong City Police, who was also ordered detained by the QuadComm in December last year over his repeated failure to show up at the hearings on the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Grijaldo has since sought Supreme Court relief in connection with the contempt order issued to him.

Villanueva was earlier cited in contempt over his repeated denial about his involvement in the apparent warrantless arrest of Jed Pilapil Sy, wife of suspected drug lord and Chinese Allan Sy. PDEA agents raided a suspected shabu laboratory in Davao City in 2004 even if PDEA’s records reflect that Sy was arrested twice by the agents of PDEA then led by Villanueva.

Villanueva served his contempt order last January 13 which was supposed to last until the QuadComm wraps up its proceedings. —KG, GMA Integrated News