Eastern Metro’s 3rd most wanted nabbed in Tarlac

WANTED NO MORE Joel Tapec, a former policeman believed to be the leader of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom gang that operated in the eastern part of Metro Manila, is presented to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome following his arrest in Tarlac province earlier this week. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Another “bad egg” has been arrested by his former colleagues in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

An ex-lawman accused of heading a notorious kidnap-for-ransom group composed of rogue police officers was captured in Tarlac province on Tuesday, more than seven years after he was tagged in the abduction and killing of a Chinese-Filipino engineer in Quezon City.

In a news conference Thursday, PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome announced the arrest of Joel Tapec, alleged leader of the “Dose Pares” group and the third most wanted man on the list of the Eastern Police District.

Tapec used to hold the rank of Police Officer 2.

Bartolome said nine of the 12 members of the KFR group are police officers who have been dismissed from the service.

“His arrest is part of our continuing campaign to run after police officers involved in kidnapping and other illegal activities,” he told reporters.

Senior Superintendent Renato Gumban, PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group chief, said Tapec and 11 other members of his group were charged with the abduction and murder of Michael Chan.

The victim’s body was found in Antipolo City three days after he was seized by armed men on Sept. 15, 2005, in Quezon City.

“Tapec and his Dose Pares group went into hiding after they were charged for the death of Michael Chan. They were also behind other kidnapping and robbery cases in the eastern part of Metro Manila,” Gumban said.

Of the members of the group, only Tapec and Police Officer 1 Candido Vallejo have been arrested since Chan’s death.

Gumban identified the other members of the syndicate as Inspector Nathaniel Capitana, Police Officers 2 Roger Villarente, Allan Verana, Arden Lanaza and Daniel Maborang, Police Officers 1 Alexander Pangilinan and Roel Palana, and Christian Mercelo, Ely Frias Jr. and Ferdinand Gacusan.

Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpus, Tarlac police director, said Tapec was arrested in Barangay Poblacion 4, Moncada town in Tarlac province at 2 p.m. on Tuesday after a concerned citizen tipped off authorities.

Chief Inspector Augusto Pasamonte, Moncada police chief, said the suspect had been staying in the house of his girlfriend in the nearby town of Cuyapo in Nueva Ecija.