Convicted cop nabbed while reporting for duty

MANILA, Philippines - An active duty Metro Manila policeman, who was convicted by a Manila court of frustrated murder and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, was arrested while reporting for work the other day.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Roberto Rosales ordered the arrest of Police Officer 2 Luisito Dimaano, detailed at the anti-carnapping unit of the NCRPO, after he received the warrant of arrest issued by Judge William Simon Peralta of Regional Trial Court Branch 50.

Dimaano was convicted for frustrated murder of Police Officer 3 Jonathan Ruiz of the Manila Police District. Court records showed Ruiz was shot and wounded by Dimaano while the former was on board his jeepney on his way home in Tondo, Manila at around 11:30 a.m. June 8, 2001.

“PO2 Dimaano may not be aware that there is already a decision issued by the judge with regard to his criminal case. I do not tolerate any of my men who will be convicted by the court,” Rosales told The STAR.

Dimaano was personally arrested and detained by Superintendent Leo Francisco, chief of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit, when he reported to his unit Monday morning.

The convicted cop is scheduled to be brought to the court which issued the decision, for his incarceration at the National Bureau of Prisons in Muntinlupa this morning, according to Francisco.

Aside from eight years imprisonment, the court also directed Dimaano to pay the complainant the attorney’s fees of P30,000. No bail was granted in the decision.

Ruiz testified that the motive for the shooting was his wife’s filing of a case of acts of lasciviousness against Dimaano’s father. Ruiz sustained serious wounds in the chest and arm. During arraignment, Dimaano pleaded not guilty but failed to appear during the trial proper, hence, he was tried in absentia.