Cop kept suicide victim’s money?

MANILA, Philippines – A Manila policeman is being accused by the widow of a tailor who strangled himself for allegedly keeping the money in her husband’s wallet.

Nenita Santiago told the Manila Police District that Senior Police Officer 4 Noel Villamor of the MPD Station 3 reportedly kept P10,000 that her husband, Al Santiago, had in his wallet.

She said the money came from the sale of her sewing machine. Nenita said she sold the machine for P15,000 and that she holds the remaining P5,000.

Villamor was among the policemen who responded to a call about the tailor, who was found hanging by a belt in front of his dressmaking stall at the Central Market in Sta. Cruz at past 8 p.m. on Dec. 25.

Initial investigation showed Al decided to get drunk after arguing with Nenita for selling her sewing machine.

The other police officers recovered a wallet containing two identification cards and coins at the scene. The wallet was later turned over to the MPD homicide section.

Police investigation protocol dictates that first responders must not touch anything and that they should wait for those from the police headquarters to take over the inspection of the crime scene.

The MPD is working on getting Villamor’s side.