THE seven policemen involved in the kidnapping and extortion of a businesswoman from Malabon City were placed under restrictive custody at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) following their surrender on Saturday.
On Friday, Police Officer 3 (PO3) Michael Angelo Solomon, PO3 Luis Hizon Jr., PO2 Michael Huerto, PO1 Jovito Roque Jr., and PO1 Ricky Lamsen–all from the Malabon City police station–yielded to Police Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario.
On Saturday, PO3 Benandino Pacoma assigned at the Civil Security Group, and SPO2 Jerry Dela Torre who is a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operative, have also surrendered.
"Sa tingin ko binabantayan nila 'yung (unang lima) na nagsurrender. So nakita nila maayos 'yung pag-surrender," said Apolinario.
The seven police officers were among the 11 cops involved in the kidnapping and extortion of Norma Adrales on May 20 in Malabon City.
Adrales said she was abducted and detained at the Malabon drug enforcement unit (DEU) office while her personal belongings such as jewelries, cellphone, laptop and P6,000 worth of cash were taken by the suspects.
She said the group also demanded P5 million in exchange for her release.
They also contacted her boyfriend, who was detained at the National Bilibid Prison, and asked for additional P2 million and a kilogram of shabu.
However, after Adrales' boyfriend delivered the illegal drugs to her abductors, they refused to release her and instead asked for additional P1 million.
On Monday, SPO2 Ricky Pelicano, PO2 Wilson Sanchez, PO1 Joselito Ereneo, and PO1 Frances Camua, all assigned at the Malabon City DEU, were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the elements of the Northern Police District and the PNP Counter-Intelligence Task Force, Anti-Kidnapping Group, the Malabon City Police Station, and Highway Patrol Group.
Earlier, the government offered a P2 million bounty for each of the 11 policemen.
Apolinario said the accused were currently making their affidavits through the assistance of their respective lawyers.
The arrested suspects earlier denied involvement on the incident, questioning credibility of the victim due to her alleged involvement in the illegal drug operations inside the NBP, particularly through her boyfriend, a former "employee" of detained drug lord Jaybee Sebastian. (SunStar Philippines)