A dismissed policeman wanted for murder has finally been turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) after two years of hiding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Turned over to members of the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) at Abu Dhabi International Airport last Saturday, March 6 was PO3 Ruben L. Baliong.
Col. Thomas Frias Jr., acting chief of IMEG, said Baliong was arrested back in February 3 during an operation in Abu Dhabi.
A warrant of arrest for murder and physical injury was earlier issued by the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Baliong.
A Caloocan City RTC also issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with murder.
Frias reported that prior to his arrest, Baliong was assigned at Mandaluyong City Police Station 3.
He is allegedly involved in illegal drugs and is a contract killer.
“We received an information that PO3 Baliong was able to work abroad. Upon checking on his records in Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA), the subject fled to Abu Dhabi last January 4, 2019 to work as a Security Officer at Star Security Services based in Abu Dhabi," he said.
Baliong was declared absent without official leave (AWOL) and subsequently dismissed, reports said.
“With our strong coordination and partnership with other agencies, the subject was arrested by the Abu Dhabi Police and turned over to our custody," Frias said.