8 Laguna police officers relieved over ‘abduction’

STA. CRUZ, Laguna — The head of the Laguna Intelligence and Investigation Group (LIIG) and seven of his men have been relieved from their posts in connection with the alleged abduction of three Maranao traders the other week.

Relieved were Superintendent Rafael Aguilar, LIIG head, Chief Inspector June Uriquia Sr., Inspector Francisco Barcala, PO1s Alexander Sumilang, Victor Dimasapit and Frederick Natiola, SPO1 Dominador Barairo and PO3 Felipe Malacaman.

Except for Aguilar, Natiola and Malacaman, all LIIG officers were accused of abducting Maranao traders Jimmy Dapat, Pangalian Sultan and Umbay Alim from their residence in Biñan, Laguna last Jan. 13.

The group denied having kidnapped the three traders, claiming they were arrested during a drug buy-bust and were subsequently charged in court for possession and sale of about 10 grams of shabu.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Corvera, Laguna police director, said Aguilar and his intelligence agents, who operate in the first district comprised of the towns of San Pedro, Biñan and Sta. Rosa, were relieved to prevent a whitewash of the case against them.

The complaint for robbery-extortion against Uriquia, Barcala, Sumilang, Dimasapit, Barairo and police informants Bienvenido Salandanan and Arnulfo Montalbo has been amended to kidnapping for ransom.

Elements of the San Pedro police and the Regional Counter-Intelligence Special Operations Group arrested Salandanan and Montalbo while receiving P210,000 from the relatives of the three Maranao traders at the Pacita Complex in San Pedro, more than 16 hours after the alleged abduction.

Montalbo and Salandanan, however, claimed they were about to accompany the relatives of Dapat, Sultan and Alim to the police headquarters when they were arrested.