CDO cops arrested for kidnapping

Bobby Lagsa

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CDO cops arrested for kidnapping
The National Bureau of Investigation in Northern Luzon is looking into the involvement of the arrested policemen in other illegal activities

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – With the arrest of 5 policemen allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Enrique Fernandez III, the National Bureau of Investigation in Region 10 is investigating if these suspects are also involved in other illegal activities operating as a syndicate.

The police officers were arrested by NBI-10 after the family of Fernandez sought their help after they exhausted efforts to seek help from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO).

The suspects were identified as Senior Insp. Ereneo Ramirez, PO3 Alejandro Ubanan, SPO2 Jojo Lim, SPO1 Alaindelon Tacubao and PO2 Sangkula Hussein, all members of the COCPO.

Ramirez is the head of COCPO’s police’s Crime Against Person and Property Desk, while the other suspects worked under him. 

The victim’s father, Enrique, Jr said that they reported the incident to the police but said they acted too slow, “We went back several times and we don’t understand because they think they know their police are the suspects,” the father said.

Police blotter showed that they reported the incident on October 24 at the Carmen Police Station, a day after a witness told them of the incident and how the kidnapping was caught on close-circuit television (CCTV) of Condotel in Upper Balulang.

The suspects were identified through the CCTV from a nearby establishment, which the NBI was able to secure on October 26.

The suspects, who are detained at the NBI-10 detention cell, were alleged as behind the kidnapping of Enrique Fernandez III last October 23.

No ransom was demanded by the kidnappers from the family, it was learned.

Lawyer Hans Barbaso, NBI-10 assistant regional director, said they will be digging deeper the alleged act perpetrated by the police officers and check if they were acting on their own or are part of a syndicate.

The agency, Barbaso said, will also probe if the suspects are involved in illegal drugs.

The policemen were arrested by NBI-10 agents at the Philippine National Police-10 (PNP-10) headquarters in Camp Vicente Alagar, Barangay Lapasan last Tuesday.

He said it appeared that the policemen were not aware of the presence of the arresting agents.

Barbaso said the suspects did not resist arrest but requested the NBI-10 operatives not to handcuff them.

During a press conference Tuesday evening, Barbaso showed to the media the CCTV footage taken outside the establishment in Barangay Balulang where Fernandez was abducted.

The footage revealed the victim was mauled first by the law enforcers on the street and inside the van where he was transported somewhere. His motorcycle was also taken.

The alleged kidnappers were identified by a witness and by police officials who saw the CCTV footage.

Barbaso said the suspects will be facing kidnapping and carnapping charges.

He said they have yet to determine if the victim is still alive as investigation is still being conducted by the NBI-10.

Although the family is glad that the suspects were arrested, Barbaso said the Enriquez family is hoping the victim is still alive.

At press time, the suspects refused to grant interviews with the media to confirm or deny the accusation against them. – Rappler.com

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