More cops as criminals

Last week, we reported that 3 policemen were arrested for separate crimes committed in Pangasinan, Batangas, and Quezon City.

Now comes another case of a police major and nine other policemen assigned at the La Loma Police Station 1 of Quezon City being accused of brigandage or highway robbery, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention. They were also accused of confiscating P2 million from the victims and also withdrew P119,000 from the victims’ ATM accounts.

Already arrested by Eastern Police District (EPD) director, Chief Supt. Abelardo Villacorta and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Carmelo Valmoria is Chief Inspector Joseph De Vera, 39, deputy commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 1, who owned the Toyota Hi-Ace Commuter van used in the crimes.

The Honda Civic car, meanwhile, was traced to a dismissed police officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2006, former Inspector Marco Polo Estrera.

The white Fortuner was traced to a certain Maguidala Mamaruga Nasser of Lanao del Sur.

Also nabbed in a follow-up operation is Senior Inspector Oliver Villanueva. Their accused companions are PO2 Mark de Paz, PO2 Ebonn Decatoria, SPO1 Ramil Hachero, PO2 Jerome Datinguinoo, PO2 Weavin Masa, all from La Loma police station. Also accused are PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez of the Quezon City District Public Safety Battalion (DPSB) and PO2 Alan Emlano of Caloocan Police Station.

De Vera, at first, claimed that the crime was an “anti-drug operation” against their two victims, Ustadz Samanodin Abdul Gafur and Camal Mama, who were employees of a Lanao del Sur-based contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but was not able to present documents proving the legitimacy of the operation.

According to Villacorta, there was no authority for them to do the operation, not even coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). They don’t even have a spot report or even a blotter entry.

De Vera and Villanueva belong to the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 2001 where they graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety in 2001.

QCPD chief Richard Albano has relieved Superintendent Osmundo de Guzman as La Loma Police Station 1 commander.

The P2 million is now missing although it was reported that Chief Inspector De Vera admitted confiscating only P300,000.

This case is a major crisis for the PNP. It was a brazen case of 10 policemen committing a heinous crime in daytime on a busy public highway — EDSA in Mandaluyong City.

President Aquino and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas must conduct a top-level investigation of the sad state of affairs in the PNP.

There have been several calls for the relief of PNP Director General Alan Purisima, who is accused of owning several condominium units and pieces of land in Nueva Ecija. He is also accused of building a P25-million PNP chief’s residence in Camp Crame.

No interest?

House of Representatives members are cool to the suggestion of Albay Governor Joey Salceda that an impeachment complaint be filed against Vice-President Jejomar Binay.

Speaker Sonny Belmonte said the Vice President cannot be impeached for acts committed before he became vice president.

Rep. Alfredo Benitez (LP, Negros Occidental) said the proper forum is the Ombudsman, pointing out that the accusation against VP Binay happened when he was mayor of Makati and, therefore, he was not yet an impeachable officer.

Rep. Jerry Treñas (LP, Iloilo) agreed with Benitez. Treñas pointed out “that there's a legal opinion that this is not impeachable because these are alleged offenses that were committed at a time when he (Binay) was not yet an impeachable officer.”

Even Rep. Edgar Erice (LP, Caloocan) was not keen on endorsing an impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

Party-List Rep. Walden Bello (Akbayan) said that “impeachment is a move that must be resorted to only with the best and gravest of reasons.” Meanwhile, there are calls in the House to investigate the construction of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), a pet project funded by Senate President Frank Drilon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) allocations. It is claimed that the ICC cost about P70,000 per square meter (sq.m.), more expensive than the Makati City Hall Parking Building 2.

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, spokesman of VP Binay, said the Vice President will answer all charges against him point by point next week.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee, chaired by Senator Koko Pimentel, will hold its third hearing on the controversial Makati parking building today, with former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado being recalled to testify.

Tidbits

Melchor Aranas, president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC) Sta. Maria, Laguna, was shot dead.

Gilbert Acierto, 49, a close bodyguard of Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano, was shot dead in Solana, Cagayan.

Volunteer village watchmen Guillermo Bigno Jr. and Michael Bigno were shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman at Barangay Don Bosco in Paranaque City.

Davinder Kumalo, 26, Indian national, was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman in San Mateo, Rizal.

The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has dismissed a poll protest filed by actor Aga Muhlach against Camarines Sur Rep. Wimpy Fuentebella, in a resolution dated Aug. 28. This is Fuentebella’s second term as congressman.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice announced in a privilege speech that he is no longer filing a resolution to amend the Constitution to lift the term limits of President Aquino.