2 cops arrested for woman’s kidnap; 4 more cops linked to case

MANILA, Philippines - Two policemen were arrested yesterday for allegedly kidnapping a woman in Muntinlupa City Wednesday.

Police Officer 2 Herminigildo Gajeto Jr., assigned at the Southern Police District (SPD); and PO1 Ryan Manga of the Police Community Precinct 11 in Parañaque City were collared by Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) police officers after receiving P12,000 from Jennilind Rodriguez’s relatives.

The two policemen named their accomplices as PO2 Michel Marcos and PO2 Domingo Abarico, both of the SPD Holding Office; PO2 Rigor Octaviano of the Pasay City police; PO1 Dennis Quinto of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Police Holding Administrative Unit (RPHAU).

NCRPO chief Director Leonardo Espina ordered the conduct of summary dismissal proceedings against the six policemen, who are being hunted down by the NCRPO, the Intelligence Group and the SPD.

“They should be punished severely for the crime they have done. We don’t need policemen like them in our police force,” said Espina.

Reports reaching Espina showed that the six policemen arrested Rodriguez in Muntinlupa City Wednesday on drug charges. They brought her to the RPHAU barracks in Camp Bagong Diwa, where they reportedly demanded that her relatives pay P40 million for her release.

AKG police officers, under Senior Superintendent Rene Gumban, got wind of the kidnapping and guided Rodriguez’s family in the negotiation.

Gumban reported that the ransom was reduced to P12,000. Manga and Gajeto, who were in civilian clothes, were arrested after the money was handed to one of them at a fastfood restaurant at around 4 a.m. yesterday.

Rodriguez was rescued at a Isuzu Crosswind parked nearby. The vehicle is registered to the wife of the one of the suspects.