Cops who kidnapped actor’s relatives ordered arrested

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – A local court has issued arrest warrants against 4 of the 5 Olongapo cops charged for kidnapping the relatives of teen actor Jhake Vargas.

Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of Branch 74 of the Regional Trial Court here has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to search and bring PO1 Eleazar Jimenez, PO3 Alejandro Quinit, PO3 Arnold Chantengco, and PO1 Jayson Asuncion to court.

The cops were involved in the kidnapping of Vargas’ brother and a sister-in-law who were later released after the family paid P200,000.

Joseph Vargas, brother of Jhake Vargas, a talent of the GMA network, filed the charges at the city prosecutor’s office in September 2012.

Joseph said that the 5 armed policemen barged into their house in Barangay New Cabalan here on September 5, and arrested him and his wife, Jonalyn, on charges that they were holding a pot session.

The policemen also claimed that Joseph’s house was a suspected drug den. The cops then asked Joseph to produce payment for their release, which he secured through the help of Jhake’s manager, German Moreno.

Later, the family of Vargas charged the police with kidnapping for ransom in the local courts.

The court order revealed that the cops may have been assigned by the PNP to Baler, Aurora. Judge Ginez-Jabalde is directing the provincial director of the PNP there to arrest the erring cops.

It further ordered the PNP to seek the rogue cops in Aurora or “anywhere else in the Philippines they can be found for having been charged before this court with the crime of kidnapping for ransom and bring them forthwith before this court to be dealt with according to law. “

Ginez-Jabalde did not reccomend any bail for the cops. – Rappler.com