Pubdate: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 Source: Manila Standard (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 Manila Standard Contact: http://www.manilastandardonline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3450 Author: Joel Zurbano, Dennis Carcamo Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) OFFICER LINKED TO SALVAGE CASE A witness has linked a ranking police officer to the case of four Metro Manila policemen and a civilian caught dumping a corpse in Calamba City, Laguna late last week. A source at the National Bureau of Investigation said the testimony of the witness, who went to NBI headquarters in the company of a spy of one of NBI's investigating units to tell his story, has compelled the bureau to step into the case. The source said the witness, in his initial statement, tagged a ranking Philippine National Police officer who allegedly ordered the abduction and killing of victim Gilbert Garcia. According to the witness, Garcia was a drug user involved in petty crimes in Pasay City. "As of now, the motive is not yet clear." At press time, NBI invited the family of Garcia to shed light on the case. On Tuesday, the Crusaders for Good Governance of Pasay (CGGP) asked NBI to investigate the case following reports that a ranking police officer was involved. "We were informed that aside from the four policemen ranking police officer also took part in the abduction and killing of Garcia. This official had a big role in the case, so, we want NBI to dig deeper into this," said Rey Evangelista, CGGP spokesperson. A statement from Malacanang condemned the killing and ordered a speedy investigation. The policemen are PO2 Marcelino Taduyo; PO1s Ramil Marquita and Reynaldo Soronel of the Pasay City police community precinct 6; PO2 Cenon Carolino of the Makati City Guadalupe police community precinct; and Carolino's brother Pablito, 35, a Pasay City hall official employee. The Calamba police filed kidnapping with murder charges against the five, now detained at Calamba jail. They refused to give any statements. Seized from the suspects were two 9mm pistols, two .45-cal. pistols and several bullets. Evangelista quoted their informant as saying the Pasay policemen were newly transferred to Pasay PCP-6, under the command of Chief Insp. Julian Balan, who has kept mum on the case. "There are so many questions we want answered. Why were a Makati policeman and a Pasay city hall employee involved here, and why have their superiors kept silent?" asked Evangelista. Investigators said Calamba policemen were on their way to Barangay Batino when they spotted a Mitsubishi L300 (XGL-397) parked suspiciously along the dimly lit portion of Calamba Hills 2 Subdivision in Barangay Barandal at 12:05 a.m. The policemen checked the van and found Garcia's body, his hands cuffed behind him and a nylon card looped around his neck. 3 Cops in Extort Meanwhile, antinarcotics policemen arrested three colleagues and two civilians while they were extorting from the mother of a detained drug suspect at Mandaluyong City police headquarters yesterday. Arrested on the basis of a complaint from Alicia Lloreta were SPO3 Rodel Castalone; PO1s Jefferson Gonzales and Salvador del Mundo; Danilo Soriano and an unidentified police spy. The policemen were members of the local antidrug unit. Lloreta said the five tried to extort P100,000 from her in exchange for the safe release of her son Jericho, 33, who was arrested while playing a card game in the city Tuesday afternoon. Negotiations brought down the price to P20,000 and the downgrading of charges from drug pushing to drug use. Agents of the PNP antiillegal drugs special operation task force arrested the suspects after Lloreta handed over the marked money to Soriano. A brief shootout preceded the arrest. No one was reported hurt. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake