Thu Sep 12 03:20:57 UTC 2024: ## House Panel Jails Police Officer for Ignoring Extrajudicial Killings Probe

**MANILA, Philippines** – The House of Representatives’ “quad committee” investigating extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration has taken a decisive action, ordering the detention of Police Master Sergeant Arthur Narsolis for his refusal to cooperate with the probe.

The panel, composed of four House committees, cited Narsolis in contempt on Thursday, September 12, after he failed to appear and explain his absence from the hearings. Narsolis will remain in detention within the House premises until the investigation concludes or the lawmakers lift the contempt order.

Narsolis is the latest individual to be held in contempt for non-cooperation. Earlier, Corrections Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla, the chief of the Davao prison where three Chinese drug lords were killed in 2016, was similarly detained for the same reason. Both Narsolis and Padilla are implicated in the probe into the killings of Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan, and Wong Meng Pin.

According to affidavits from two inmates, Leopoldo Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro, they were ordered to kill the Chinese drug lords. Tan claims Narsolis, his high school classmate, gave them the kill order during a visit to the Davao prison in 2016.

Tan’s affidavit further alleges conversations between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Padilla regarding the killings.

The probe continues, with last week’s hearing revealing accusations from Padilla that retired police colonel Royina Garma, a close associate of Duterte, threatened him to refrain from interfering with the investigation.

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