4 more cops at large

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) raided the Muntinlupa City police headquarters Friday night and arrested four policemen accused of extorting money in exchange for the release of a woman and her seven-year-old child.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde vowed to show no mercy to the police officers.

“We will show no mercy to these policemen who are involved in illegal activities especially in extortion and kidnapping,” he told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of incorporation rites of new cadets of the PNP Academy in Silang, Cavite.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, NCRPO director, ordered the relief of the eight police officers who reportedly participated in the extortion and Muntinlupa police chief Senior Superintendent Dionisio Bartolome for command responsibility.

The four anti-narcotics operatives who were arrested are Senior Police Officer 1 Psylo Joe Jimenez, Police Officer 3 Romeo Par, Police Officer 2 Farvy dela Cruz and Police Officer 1 Jon-Jon Averion.

The chief of the station’s drug enforcement unit, Inspector Mark Kevin Pesigan, Senior Police Officer 1 Edgardo Zervoulakos, and Police Officers 3 Charlie Miranda and Rhoderick Salvador were able to escape and remain at large.

They allegedly demanded P400,000 from construction foreman Abner Bumatay, 35, in exchange for the release of his partner Glaiza Iglesias, 33, and their child, who were taken during an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Tunasan on Thursday.

Eleazar said the police allegedly took away some of the victims’ belongings, including jewelry, a LED television set, mobile phones, a laptop and some money.

The complainant asked for a lower amount and the policemen agreed to P40,000 in cash. The police officers were unaware that Bumatay already lodged a complaint at the NCRPO.

Eleazar said the arrested lawmen face charges of kidnapping, robbery and extortion.

Albayalde admitted there are still scalawags among their ranks but these are only a few.