WPD officer in car theft case freed

A former chief of the Western Police District-Traffic Enforcement Group was arrested last Sunday by agents of the WPD Anti-Carnapping Unit for alleged car theft.

He was, however, later released following a legal technicality.

WPD Ancar head Chief Superintendent Ador Arevalo identified the suspect as Superintendent Alexander Castulo, former head of the WPD-TEG, and now detailed on "floating" status at the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Castulo’s arrest came after the victim, his close friend, businessman Benito Gatdula, lodged a complaint against him at the WPD.

According to Gatdula, the suspect borrowed his Mitsubishi Adventure van with plate number WMS-167 last Jan. 16. The van was never returned.

Last Sunday, alert operatives of the WPD-Ancar spotted Castulo driving the borrowed van at the corner of Alhambra and T.M. Kalaw streets at about 2 p.m. They immediately flagged him down and effected the arrest.

When quizzed by the arresting agents, Castulo denied stealing the van and insisted that he was about to return the van to Gatdula.

Further investigation showed that Castulo also borrowed the Yamaha "big bike" of Luneta detachment commander Chief Inspector Jimmy Tiu last Oct. 30.

When asked where the motorcycle is now, Castulo said that he failed to return the borrowed "big bike" after it was stolen from him by unidentified men. Arevalo said that Castulo, was released after the "hot" van was seized from him.

"We have to yet to formally arrest him following an arrest warrant to be issued by the court. At the same time of his arrest, Castulo was already facing car theft charges in court as filed by Gatdula. However, Gatdula did not reveal this to us. It is no longer in our jurisdiction. If the court issues the arrest warrant, only then can we arrest him," Arevalo said.

According to the WPD-Ancar, Castulo could still post bail of P180,000 for each of his two vehicle theft charges should he be arrested.

Earlier this week, a Manila judge ordered the arrest and detention of eight WPD lawmen for the killing of two Muslims in Quiapo at the height of the Metro Manila bombings last year.

Judge Rodolgo Ponferrada of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41 issued the warrants of arrest. The killings occurred on the night of June 8.

Ordered arrested were Senior Police Officer 4 Wilson Tibor, SPO4 Remigio Estacio, SPO3 Edgardo Abaga, SPO4 Julian Siriban, SPO2 Eduardo Ramos, PO3 Randy Dimayuga, PO3 Ronald Hernandez, PO2 Philip Malindog and PO1 Ignacio Garlan. The accused have maintained self-defense in the killing.

The eight lawmen were charged with the slayings of overseas Filipino worker applicants Esmael Omar and Samin Akmad. – Mike Frialde