PNP Chief General Rommel Marbil (center) with Southern Police District Director Leon Rosete (left) and Interior and Local Gov’t. Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. (right) during the presentation of 4 cops allegedly involved in kidnap for ransom. (Photo screengrab from PNP’s Facebook livestream on June 5, 2024)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Rommel Marbil on Wednesday scolded four police officers who were arrested and charged for allegedly kidnapping a Malaysian and three Chinese last June 2.
A visibly dismayed Marbil likewise warned other police personnel that the PNP would not tolerate any crime committed by its members.
READ: 4 cops nabbed for alleged kidnapping of 3 Chinese, 1 Malaysian
“We are not happy na involved yung police. Hindi na natuto ‘tong mga ito. Hindi nila nakita na this is life imprisonment,” Marbil said during a press briefing where the erring personnel were presented.
(We are not happy that police personnel are involved. It seemed like they did not think this through, and it would result in life imprisonment.)
“You destroyed yung buhay nyo and you destroyed yung tiwala ng mga tao sa pulis natin,” the PNP chief told the arrested cops.
(You destroyed your lives, and you destroyed people’s trust in our police.)
“We hope na di na ‘to maulit. Malaking babala ito sa mga taong gumagawa and we will not in any way be forgiving,” he warned.
(We hope this will not happen again. This is a big warning to the people who do it and we will not in any way be forgiving.)
“Sabi ng ating SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government), lahat ng pulis na involved, wala na tayong patawad and we will make sure na itong mga taong ito will die in prison,”Marbil stressed.
(Our SILG said, to all police involved, we won’t forgive anymore and we will make sure that these people will die in prison.)
DILG chief Benhur Abalos presents to the media the policemen who are suspects in the kidnapping of a Malaysian and three Chinese on June 2, 2024. (INQUIRER.net / FAITH ARGOSINO)
Earlier, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. identified the suspects as Senior Master Sergeant Angelito David, Staff Sergeant Ralph Tumangil, Master Sergeant Ricky Tabora and Major Carlo Villanueva.
The cops were charged with kidnapping for ransom, robbery and carnapping.
He added that 10 other civilians who are also reportedly involved with the kidnapping remain at large.
DILG chief Benhur Abalos presents the Malaysian and three Chinese who were kidnapped last June 2, 2024. (INQUIRER.net / FAITH ARGOSINO)
Of the four victims, Abalos said that only two Chinese, identified as Meng Zhao, 29, and Yang Zhuan Zhuan, 30, were kidnapped early Sunday morning.
The two other foreigners, Shi Yi Xuan, 32, and a 25-year-old Malaysian, Tang Heng Fei, escaped.
To save their friends, Zhi and Tang paid a ransom worth P2.5 million, resulting in Meng and Yang’s release around 6 a.m. on June 3.
The suspects were apprehended during a manhunt operation launched by the National Capital Region Police Office, along with operatives from the Southern Police District and Anti-Kidnapping Group.