8 cops probed over ‘kidnap’

Eight members of the Western Police District (WPD) Detective Beat Section are now facing investigation over the alleged kidnapping for ransom of a Filipino-Chinese businessman and a companion in Binondo, Manila last Nov. 2.

Those being probed were identified by WPD spokesman Chief Inspector Gerry Agunod as Senior Police Officer 4 Rodolfo Rival, SPO3 Eduardo Liwanagan, SPO2 Angelo Camero, a certain SPO2 Dematera, SPO2 Teodoro Retuta, SPO2 Leonardo Santos, PO3 Robert Sena and PO3 Rommel Baylon.

Agunod said the WPD-General Assignments Section (GAS) was ordered by WPD chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong to conduct the probe after the kidnapping incident was reported in several tabloids.

However, Agunod said the probe is still in the verification stage as the alleged kidnap victims have yet to appear at the WPD headquarters and file a formal complaint against the police officers.

Agunod, quoting the tabloids, identified the kidnap victims as Jimmy Ong and his friend Kelvin Kho.

According to reports, Ong was walking in Binondo at around 8 a.m when he was allegedly snatched by the police officers. Ong was then handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to board a vehicle.

Ong was then taken to the WPD headquarters where the police officers allegedly forced him to admit being a drug pusher. Later that day, the officers allegedly called Ong’s family and demanded P3 million for his release.

The amount was later reduced to P900,000, reports added. Kho, who visited Ong at the WPD headquarters, was also taken "hostage" by the accused policeman.

The following day, Ong and Kho were released after allegedly paying ransom at a hamburger restaurant in front of the WPD headquarters. The reports said a barangay chairman in Divisoria acted as the go-between in the payment.

Agunod said the officers have already been summoned to explain their side.