A police colonel and nine other policemen assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were cleared of the cases of kidnapping and perjury that were filed against them in connection with the arrest of four drug suspects in Cavite in 2021.
Those cleared of the charge were Police Lt. Col. Ryan Jay E. Orapa; former chief of the NCRPO-Regional Drug Enforcement Unit; Staff Sergeants Roy G. Pioquinto, Robert Allan E. Raz Jr., Denar S. Roda and Alfredo U Andes; Corporals Alric M. Natividad, Ronald John V. Lanara, Reynaldo G. Seno Jr, Troy V. Paragas, Ronald R. Montibon, Ruscel DC Soloman, Christal Rhine B. Rosita and Jovelyn O, Tamagos.
Also cleared were civilians Angelo Atienza, Nicasio Manio and Nicholes Manio.
Orapa, a member of the PNP Academy Class 2010, was elated by the decision, saying it vindicated them.
"We just want to redeem our names as we and our families suffered as a result of the negative publicity triggered by the unfounded accusations against us," said Orapa.
In dismissing the case against them, the Department of Justice stated in a resolution that there is no sufficient pieces of evidence against the 10 policemen.
The CCTV footages presented as evidence, for instance, "are not sufficiently and convincingly identified by persons who are capable of doing so", according to the DOJ.
The case was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID) in connection with the operation against Gio Jordie Mateos, Mico Franco Mateos, Garry Mateo Jr., and one Ronaldo Añonuevo on April 13, 2021.
The DOJ stated that a review of the CCTV footage also revealed that none of the accused were vividly seen making their identifications "difficult, if not impossible."
The DOJ resolution also dismissed the perjury charges filed against the 10 as there was insufficient proof to show that the respondents perjured themselves in a related Senate investigation regarding the matter.
As a result, the nine policemen were reinstated to the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group.
The 10th policeman, Paragas, was dismissed, however, from the service for an unrelated case.