FERDINAND CAJIPE—PHOTO COURTESY OF NCRPO
A policeman with alleged links to convicted drug lord Peter Co was arrested on Wednesday, more than 11 years after he was found guilty of robbery-extortion.
SPO2 Ferdinand Cajipe was also considered a “high-value target” on President Duterte’s so-called narcolist, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
After going Awol (absent without official leave) last year, he was arrested at a supermarket in Guiguinto, Bulacan province, by a joint team from the NCRPO Regional Special Operation Unit forces and Guiguinto police.
Frozen account
According to the NCRPO, Cajipe’s bank account was found containing P7.72 million before it was frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
NCRPO director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said the money came directly from Co.
Eleazar explained that despite the alleged drug links and criminal charges that hounded Cajipe, the officer remained in the service.
He was assigned at the Police Security Protection Group until he went Awol last year when an arrest warrant was issued against him.
“We were remiss in our monitoring, letting him remain on duty. That needs to be improved,” Eleazar said.
In 2002, Myrna Germedia testified that Cajipe, along with three other policemen, threatened to frame her by planting “shabu” (crystal meth) as evidence, and took her money totaling P100,000.
Manila RTC verdict
Cajipe and his accomplices were found guilty by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 on March 19, 2007.
On June 29, 2009, the Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s ruling.
A petition for a writ of amparo in favor of Cajipe was later filed in the Supreme Court, but it was dismissed on Feb. 8, 2012.
Eleazar said Cajipe’s three coaccused had also been arrested. He said Cajipe also admitted to being a drug pusher but denied that the P7.72 million found in his bank account was meant for him.—WITH REPORTS FROM ANNA CAMPOS AND DANIELLE BOO