Manhunt on for 4 SPD cops in woman’s kidnap

MANILA, Philippines - Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte ordered yesterday a manhunt for four SPD policemen linked to the kidnapping of a woman in Muntinlupa City Wednesday.

Villacorte ordered the hunt for Police Officer 2 Michel Marcos and PO2 Domingo Abarico, both of the SPD Holding Office; PO2 Rigor Octaviano of the Pasay City police and PO1 Dennis Quinto of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Police Holding Administrative Unit (RPHAU) following the arrest on Thursday of their two accomplices.

Police Officer 2 Herminigildo Gajeto Jr., assigned at the SPD, and PO1 Ryan Manga of the Police Community Precinct 11 in Parañaque City were nabbed on Thursday by agents of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) after receiving P12,000 marked money from the relatives of kidnap victim Jennilind Rodriguez.

“They are now considered as being absent without official leave. I have ordered a manhunt for them,” Villacorte said.

He added that the four police officers have not signified any intention to surrender.

Earlier, NCRPO chief Director Leonardo Espina ordered the conduct of summary dismissal proceedings against the six accused policemen. Espina also ordered the NCRPO, the PNP’s Intelligence Group and the SPD to track down the four policemen.

“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 the NCRPO said the six accused policemen arrested Rodriguez and Kevin Bajar at Purok 4, Sucat in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday for alleged drug trafficking.

The six policemen then brought her to the RPHAU barracks in Camp Bagong Diwa, where they reportedly demanded that her relatives pay P40,000 for her release.

Rodriguez’s relatives asked the AKG, under Senior Superintendent Rene Gumban, for help. Gumban reported that the ransom was later reduced to P12,000.

Police said Manga and Gajeto, who were in civilian clothes, were arrested after receiving the marked cash from the victim’s relatives at a fastfood restaurant in Parañaque City.

Rodriguez was rescued from an Isuzu Crosswind van parked nearby. The vehicle is registered to the wife of the one of the suspects.

Gajeto and Manga, as well as the four other police officers, were charged with robbery (extortion), unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention and violation of the election gun ban before the Parañaque City prosecutor’s office.