7 Las Piñas cops arrested for kidnapping

NCRPO director Major General Guillermo Eleazar speaks to seven Las Piñas City police officers arrested on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in Taguig City over a kidnap-for-ransom case. Photo courtesy of NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines — After two policemen were recently arrested for alleged extortion activities, seven Las Piñas City police officers were served arrest warrants for allegedly demanding cash from the family of an arrested drug suspect in exchange for his freedom.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Thursday identified the suspects as Staff Sergeant Joel Lupig, Corporal Vener Gunalao, Corporal Jayson Arellano, Patrolman Jeffrey De Leon, Patrolman Mark Jefferson Fulgenio, Patrolman Raymard Gomez, and Patrolman Erickson Rivera.

The seven, who have been under restrictive custody at the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City since November 29, 2018, were served their warrants and were placed under arrest at the police camp on Wednesday afternoon.

To recall, the police officers, assigned at the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the Las Piñas City Police, allegedly extorted money from a certain Shelane Lugutan, sister of Cyrus Wency Lugutan who was arrested in an anti-drug operation.

According to NCRPO, the police officers demanded cash from Shelane in exchange of the release of her brother. She then reported the incident to the Regional Special Operations Unit of the NCRPO, which later launched an entrapment operation on November 21 last year. The seven evaded arrest at that time but later surrendered to police and were put under restrictive custody.

READ: 7 ex-Las Piñas cops linked to kidnapping surrender to police

Cases of kidnapping with serious illegal detention and an administrative case of grave misconduct were filed against the erring police officers. /muf