Contempt order vs ex-PDEA chief lifted

The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) has lifted the contempt order against former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins Villanueva on Tuesday, one week after he served his detention time in the House of Representatives.

The contempt order was imposed after lawmakers accused Villanueva of “lying” under oath during their 12 December investigation into the proliferation of narcotics and drug smuggling.

Villanueva sought the panel’s consideration to lift the contempt order. In his motion, he contended that he had fully cooperated with the congressional probe by attending hearings whenever summoned.

He also asserted that he voluntarily answered all queries and did not refuse to respond to relevant questions posed by lawmakers.

Aside from allegedly lying, the quad committee cited Villanueva in contempt for his “refusal to answer relevant questions.” He was supposed to be detained at the House on 12 December until the committee concluded its investigation.

“I was the one who moved to cite ex-General Wilkins in contempt, and I appreciate his gesture of seeking reconsideration, unlike Col. [Hector] Grijaldo, who resorted to forum shopping,” mega-panel co-chair Stephen Paduano said.

The lawmaker later moved to lift the contempt order against Villanueva after reading his appeal, assuring that Villanueva would now “cooperate and answer the queries truthfully.”