Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr presents the four policemen tagged as behind the kidnapping of two foreign nationals in Pasay City on Sunday, June 2, 2024. The kidnap victims were released after allegedly paying P2.5 million ransom. Interior Secretary and PNP chief gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil have already ordered aggressive follow-up operations against at least six other suspects.
A police major and three other policemen were arrested for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of two foreigners on Sunday, June 2, in Pasay City.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. identified the arrested policemen as Police Maj. Christel Carlo A Villanueva, alias Tatoy, and an intelligence officer of the Pasay City Police Station; Police Senior Master Sgt. Angelito David, alias Goliath, assigned to the Makati City Police Station Motorcycle Unit; Police Staff Sgt. Ralph Tumanguil, alias Tom, from the Regional Logistics Division of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO); and, Police Master Sgt. Ricky Tabora, alias Bong, Bong from the Regional Headquarters Support Unit, NCRPO.
The arrest stemmed from a kidnapping activity involving four Chinese nationals on board a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) at around 12:30 a.m. on June 2 along Taft Avenue in Pasay City.
Two of the Chinese nationals were forcibly taken while the two others were able to escape and sought assistance from the barangay officials, who in turn, reported the incident to the local police.
The two abducted Chinese nationals, according to Abalos, were released on Monday, June 3, after paying around P2.5 million as ransom.
The conduct of the investigation resulted in the recovery of CCTV footage which became the starting point of the solution of the case, including the identification of the involved cops.
During a case conference when the CCTV footage was reviewed, it was found out that the vehicle of the four foreigners were flagged down by a motorcycle owned by the PNP and a private motorcycle installed with a siren and a blinker.
And this is what further triggered the ire of Abalos, the use of PNP resources in illegal activities.
“This incident is a serious breach of public trust and core values of the police force. The PNP will not tolerate any misconduct within their ranks,” said Abalos.
“They are committed to transparency throughout the investigation and prosecution process and will provide regular updates to ensure developments are communicated effectively,” he added.
The modus
During a case conference, one of the police officials recalled knowing a police officer who moonlights as additional manpower for an alleged Immigration official in enforcing immigration laws.
That policeman was later identified as David who admitted his participation to the kidnapping when confronted by investigators using the CCTV footage and the positive identification of two of the victims, and even a security guard who witnessed the incident.
When pressed, David squealed that he works for a certain Mike whom he identified as connected with the Bureau of Immigration.
It was the same Mike, according to the police investigation, who instructed David to flag down the vehicle of the four Chinese nationals.
David also tagged two other policemen involved in the kidnapping, Tumanquil and Tabora.
The police major, on the other hand, was later named by the arrested policemen.
More people involved
Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they are now conducting an investigation to identify the other suspects involved in the kidnapping.
But he stressed the need to run after erring cops involved in illegal activities.
“We are not happy when policemen are involved in illegal activities. This has a life imprisonment penalty and this should serve as a stern warning that we will not be forgiving,” said Marbil.
Marbil said a case of kidnapping for ransom and carnapping were already filed against the four policemen and their alleged cohorts.
Backtracking
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. said administrative charges are now being readied against the four policemen for serious offenses that could lead to their dismissal from the service.
“Corresponding administrative charges will be filed such that in a matter of two or three months, we will have disposition, we will have some information or this continuing investigation will finally lead to unearthing several cases that they have committed in the past,” said Nartatez.
Nartatez also clarified that during the investigation, the certain Mike that David identified as the one who ordered to block the vehicle of the Chinese is not connected with the Bureau of Immigration.
But all the other cohorts of the policemen, according to Nartatez, are now the subject of the follow-up operations.