The House Quad Committee withdrew the contempt order against former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Wilkins Villanueva during its 14th hearing on Tuesday, January 21.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano mentioned that Villanueva filed a 16-page motion for reconsideration before the committee, asking that the contempt order against him be lifted. Before he read the former PDEA Chief’s document, Paduano expressed his appreciation to the latter for filing the motion with the mega panel, rather than going directly to the Supreme Court (SC).
“I would like to salute former General Wilkins for respecting the contempt order that was issued to you last hearing, for presenting yourself to this Committee and the House. With that, I salute you former General Wilkins Villanueva,” the lawmaker said.
Paduano read the document aloud, countering some of the things that the former had pointed out.
The ex-PDEA Chief’s motion cited his cooperation in answering all relevant queries and attendance in the last four hearings. However, Paduano refuted this, pointing out that his attendance was not part of the contempt citation against him. Moreover, Paduano clarified that Villanueva had never violated Section 11 paragraph A, the refusal to attend a hearing without legal excuse.
Paduano furthered that Villanueva violated Section 11 paragraph C, the refusal or evasion to answer relevant questions being asked by the committee.
“On the first basis, the question of attending hearings is not part of the motion for contempt. The motion for contempt that was issued to General Wilkins is in violation of Section 11 paragraph c, with regards to refusal or evasive (answers to) relevant questions being raised by this committee,” Paduano clarified.
Despite this, Paduano moved that the contempt order against Villanueva be lifted.
“I respectfully move to lift the motion that we have cited in contempt for Mr Wilkins Villanueva,” Paduano motioned.
With no rejections and amendments from the committee, the motion was approved by the Quad Comm Chairman and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.
On December 12, 2024, Paduano motioned that the ex-PDEA Chief be cited in contempt for evading questions and lying during a committee hearing. The latter was detained at the House of Representatives on January 13, after Congress resumed its session.
Villanueva is among the personnel being questioned by the mega panel on its investigation of the illegal drug trade and the war on drugs. Both are believed to be related to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s officials and close associates from agencies like the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and PDEA.
