House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson and Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez strongly denied allegations made by PCol. Hector Grijaldo before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday, Grijaldo alleged that he was coerced by at least two co-chairpersons of the House quad-committee to affirm the existence of a reward system related to the implementation of the war on drugs under the Duterte administration.
“Gustong i-descredit ‘yung quad-comm using that issue na coercion [and] harassment," Fernandez said in an exclusive interview with DZRH for Damdaming Bayan on Tuesday.
“I think this is hindi nating pwedeng pabayaan and we will take action on this," he added.
Fernandez clarified that Grijaldo was summoned to the quad-comm's hearing as part of the investigation into the killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
He further noted that Grijaldo was the Chief of Police at the time of the killing and mentioned reports indicating that Grijaldo did not conduct an investigation into the case.
“Never in our investigation doon sa quad-comm na, ako pala, that I asked questions sa kanya [about the rewards system] kasi nga wala akong nakitang materyal na issue about him," said Fernandez.
Additionally, Garma is said to have indicated that Grijaldo would endorse her statements, suggesting that their friendship lends authenticity to her claims.
Fernandez further recounted that when he spoke with Grijaldo, he pointed to a phrase in a document referencing the reward system. Grijaldo promptly stated that he had no knowledge of it.
“It is not our policy and I think it will be offending sa ibang Chairman of the quad-comm na gawin naming ‘yung inaakusa sa amin na ikino-coerce namin siya, tine-threat namin siya, just to sign an affidavit," Fernandez firmly stated.
“Which in my belief, hindi naman siya ganoon ka-importante doon sa hearing namin," he added.
He reiterated that Grijaldo was not on the "radar" concerning the issue of the alleged reward system.
Furthermore, Fernandez stated that if he were coercing Grijaldo, he should have harassed him directly during the hearing.
"Hindi naman lumulutang ‘yung pangalan ni Grijaldo sa quad-comm. Hindi naman siya ang pinag-uusapan namin doon, kaya kami nagulat nung sinabi nilang mayroon silang bombshell doon, kwitis lang pala," said Fernandez.
The House quad-committee co-chair believes that someone instructed Grijaldo to make his statement in the Senate.
“Sure, mayroong nag-utos diyan. Sino bang naglabas sa kanya doon sa Senado," Fernandez said.
