Short walk to jail

A police recruit working part-time as an agent and utility man was stabbed dead by an errand boy right inside Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Police identified the victim as Cesar Sardea, who died after he was stabbed with a kitchen knife in the chest during an altercation with Diomedes Almerines, 38. The suspect does errands for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Sardea died while receiving treatment at the PNP General Hospital. The murder weapon was taken to the PNP Crime Laboratory.

The "breakdown" of discipline inside police headquarters was initially kept under wraps by CIDG director Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matiliano and other top police officials. However, members of the media eventually learned about the incident, which happened under the watch of duty officer, Superintendent Diosdado Valleroso.

Two candles and bloodstains marked the area where Sardea’s body fell after he was attacked by Almerines at around 8 a.m. yesterday.

Police investigators also placed markers near the stairs of the third floor of the CIDG building. The incident happened in an area adjacent to the Office of the Assistant Director for Operations.

The cause of the dispute between the two men was reportedly work-related.

Apart from working as an agent, Sardea also doubles as utility man. An engineering graduate, he was waiting for a final call for recruitment into the police force.

The suspect is assigned as a striker (police parlance for one who does errands and menial jobs) for the Anti-Transnational Crimes Division of the CIDG.

"Lagi niya akong binubuska. Nagkaroon na kami ng pagtatalo noong Sabado dahil sa paghuhugas ng pinggan, doon lahat nagsimula iyon (He insults me constantly. We had an argument last Saturday over dirty dishes, that’s where this all started)," said Almerines, who remained unrepentant when interviewed at the CIDG detention cell yesterday.

CIDG police personnel said the two had engaged in several misunderstandings in the past.

Matiliano said the incident was an isolated case, stressing a misunderstanding led to the death of the police recruit.

"No uniformed men were involved in the incident. I have ordered the CIDG for an immediate probe," the police official said in a statement. "I have also ordered officers from doing away with the hiring of strikers or helpers to prevent a repeat of the incident."

He added that appropriate charges will be filed against Almerines, whom some officers claimed had "psychotic tendencies."