Cop in kidnap-for-ransom wants prelim probe

THE police officer accused in a kidnap-for-ransom activity in Davao City availed of his right to preliminary investigation on Friday, a day after his arrest.

As the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents filed a kidnapping for ransom case against Police Officer 1 Mahkael Oliver Dicay before the City Prosecutor's Office (CPO), the latter, through his counsel Lawyer Bibiano Bustamante, preferred that the complaints filed against him be investigated and filed through a regular filing.

Dicay, a member of the First Maneuver Company under the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) based in Camp Catitipan in Davao City, abducted Vanessa Mutus, 24, a medical representative on Wednesday morning.

In an interview, Bustamante said his counsel wanted Article 125 (Delay in the delivery of detained persons to the proper judicial authorities) of the Revised Penal Code be investigated.

“Naay defect sa arrest (There is a defect in the arrest),” Bustamante told reporters.

Bustamante arrived just after Dicay was brought for an inquest proceeding before Prosecutor Shahruddin Sencio.

The case was supposedly be resolved after he waived his right for preliminary investigation since prior to the arrival of Bustamante, Dicay was brought before Public Attorney’s office (PAO) lawyer Erni Grace Fabila.

"Even the case is filed under regular filing, my client will still be detained in the detention facility of the NBI," Bustamante said.

He said, in a regular filing, the CPO will require them to submit their counter affidavit and wait for 60 days to resolve the case.

Meanwhile, complainant Mutus arrived together with her two counsels, Maria Kristine Reginio and Ericson Bansiloy.

Lawyer Arcelito Albao, NBI spokesperson, told reporters that the kidnapping-for-ransom case is non-bailable offense and has the penalty of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

Dicay was arrested around 5 p.m. Thursday outside a pawnshop in Barangay Matina Crossing in an entrapment operation conducted by NBI agents.

The victim said she was parking her car along Malvar Street when she was abducted.

Mutus said Dicay suddenly entered, pointed a gun against her and ordered her to drive him to Barangay Bago Aplaya.

Dicay even threatened her that she will be raped and harmed if she goes against his will.

"Nagmakaawa na ako sa kanya. Nag-umpisa kami sa P30,000 naging P50,000, hanggang umabot kami sa P70,000 na ransom money," Motus earlier told the press.

She said she was able to convince the suspect that she will call her employer so she can ask for the money. She immediately sought the assistance of NBI personnel, who then set up an entrapment operation against the suspect.

Recovered from the suspect was a toy gun, identification cards and cash amounting to P70,000.

Authorities found out that the suspect had also victimized two businessmen in Davao City.