Cops who put businesswoman in drum face fate of ‘termites’

National Capital Region Police Office chief Joel Pagdilao. FILE PHOTO

Branding the three policemen linked to the kidnap-slay of a businesswoman as “Anay,” National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Joel Pagdilao said on Tuesday that summary dismissal proceedings had been initiated against them.

According to Pagdilao, there was no room for Anay (abusado, nangungurakot, ayaw magpadisiplina at yumuyurak sa magandang imahe ng pulisya) policemen in the ranks of the NCRPO.

Anay, which also means termite, refers to abusive and corrupt policemen who refuse to be disciplined and trample upon the good image of the Philippine National Police.

Pagdilao said that the NCRPO had already initiated the precharge investigation for grave misconduct charges against Insp. Elgie Jacobe and Police Officers 1 Mark Jay de los Santos and Edmon Gonzales.

Meanwhile, NCRPO records showed that Jacobe, whom De los Santos had tagged as the mastermind, has three pending criminal cases: violation of the antigraft law, carrying firearms without a permit and obstructing the apprehension and prosecution of criminals.

According to Pagdilao, the third case was filed by the Bureau of Corrections in 2014 after Jacobe reportedly escorted the wife of drug lord Benedicto Veedor from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Gonzales, on the other hand, faces a criminal case for possession of illegal drugs.

The three policemen, along with six cohorts, kidnapped businesswoman Adora Lazatin on April 4, killed her the following day and withdrew a total of P210,000 from her bank account using her ATM card.

They then stuffed her body into a plastic drum which was thrown into the Pasig River near Pandacan, Manila.

The victim’s body was discovered on April 8 while Jacobe and De los Santos were arrested the following day by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents as they were withdrawing money from Lazatin’s account.

Jacobe and De los Santos are assigned at the NCRPO’s Regional Public Safety Battalion while Gonzales is with the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.