Aliangan tagged in 2013 kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman who was arrested for allegedly reselling shabu and other illegal drugs was also accused of allegedly  kidnapping a Korean man three years ago.

Police Officer 2 Jolly Aliangan and at least three policemen were charged for the crime, Senior Police Officer 1 Abelardo Aguilar told The STAR yesterday. Aliangan was then with the Manila Police District (MPD).

Aguilar, who was formerly assigned with the MPD’s general assignment and investigation section, said Aliangan reportedly hid during the course of the investigation and resurfaced after the case was filed in court.

He said he did not know what happened to the case because he was transferred to another unit but he is sure that the case progressed.

Aliangan, detailed with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) anti-illegal drug unit, was nabbed at his three-story house in Balic-Balic.

His wife and cousin Jeffrey Gutierrez, said to be a civilian agent of the NCRPO, were also arrested in the operation.

Rejected

Prior to his arrest, Aliangan asked to be transferred to the MPD anti-illegal drug unit but MPD director Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana turned him down.

“I had him background checked and he did not pass the standard. The integrity of the anti-illegal drugs personnel must be beyond reproach,” Nana told The STAR.

A source said it was found during the background investigation that Aliangan was “involved in illegal activities and the DD (Nana) got wind of it.”

Nana, however, said he did not know of the kidnapping case filed against Aliangan.

Lifestyle check

Meanwhile, a high-ranking official said that a lifestyle check is needed to flush out scalawags in the MPD.

“We know of Police Officers 1 and 2 who own luxury cars and several expensive properties. I even personally know of a policeman who is barely three years in the service but owns a condominium unit. How could this be possible?” the source said.

The source said a rookie policeman who was gunned down in Tondo several years ago owned several luxury cars and a big house “but did not almost finish college because of hardship.”

“It’s not only drugs. Some of these unscrupulous officers are also into kidnapping, carjacking and protection rackets. I hope the next administration will focus on this to once and for all clean our ranks,” he said.