Cops nab colleague for alleged kidnapping; 3 other officers evade arrest

MANILA, Philippines — A policeman assigned at the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) of the Pasay City Police was arrested on Wednesday for alleged involvement in kidnap-for-ransom racket, while three of his fellow police officers, including the police unit’s chief, managed to evade arrest.

A report from the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) identified the suspect as Police Corporal Anwar Encarnacion Nasser, while his alleged cohorts were identified as Lieutenant Ronaldo Frades, SDEU officer-in-charge; Patrolman Anthony Fernandez; and Staff Sergeant Rigor Octaviano.

According to CITF, Nasser was arrested in an entrapment operation inside the SDEU office, while the three others evaded arrest by slipping through the backdoor of the police station with the P100,000 in marked money.

The CITF said the operation stemmed from the complaint of a victim, whose name was withheld due to security reasons, who accused the suspects of demanding P100,000 from her in exchange of the release of his live-in partner  who was arrested for drug charges.

The live-in partner was rescued by joint elements of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group and the CITF in coordination with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), after they found out that his arrest on Tuesday was not recorded in the police blotter and that there was no documentation of their supposed anti-drug operation. No illegal drugs were also seized from the victim, according to CITF.

Nasser is now under the custody of the CITF for proper disposition and possible filing of a kidnap-for-ransom case against him.

Meanwhile, NCRPO chief Guillermo Eleazar relieved all 27 personnel of the SDEU as they face investigation for criminal and administrative offenses. /jpv

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