MANILA, Philippines — Three of seven police officers with a standing arrest warrant for two counts of murder surrendered to authorities early this month, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG).
The other four were arrested on separate dates and locations from February 8 to 13.
In a press briefing on Thursday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo did not specify who among the seven surrendered and were arrested, but revealed their respective ranks.
“The three captains surrendered,” Fajardo said.
In a separate statement, IMEG identified the wanted officers as follows:
- Capt. Justin Dumaguing Anogue
- Capt. Guilbert Asuncion
- Capt. Orlandop Rosales Jr.
- Staff Sgt. Quill Carame Bay-an
- Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Chumawar Jr.
- Chief Master Sgt. Israel Culangan Lucob
- Master Sgt. Dante Baloran
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The arrest warrant of the seven was issued by Presiding Judge Clarisa Dao of the San Mateo, Rizal Regional Trial Court Branch 174.
The issuance of the warrant of arrest against them stemmed from the armed encounter between the personnel of the Rapid Deployment Battalion, along with SAF and the alleged members of New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Lagyo, Barangay Puray in Rodriguez, Rizal, back in 2010, resulting in the death of two purported members of NPA.
Citing the three police officers, the IMEG said they surrendered “because they have trust and confidence that authorities will implement the law with utmost integrity” in this case.
All seven officers were detained at the IMEG Custodial Facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City.