The ‘link diagram’ which was prepared by Chief Inspector Elmer Santiago and obtained from a Philippine National Police source.
MANILA, Philippines–As soon as Chief Inspector Elmer Santiago died of multiple gunshot wounds in his car, his bloodied wife sitting on the passenger seat called the help of a policeman at the scene of the ambush–but the police officer just stared at them.
The police officer, Superintendent Maristelo Manalo, personally saw how his classmate, a former Bataan police intelligence officer, perished in the ambush in Mandaluyong City on a Holy Wednesday, April 16.
But when the injured Agnes Santiago pleaded for his help, Manalo instead cussed.
And she was not sure if Manalo was shocked because his friend was killed or because Agnes saw him on the scene.
This was how Agnes recounted to Anti-Drugs Advocate leader and former antinarcotics agent Jonathan Morales the killing of her husband.
Morales, in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, said the Santiago couple had just gone from the house of Manalo for a visit prior to the ambush.
Manalo is the former head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Anti-Carnapping Unit.
Morales said Agnes was baffled why Manalo, who was apparently agitated upon seeing them, was there but did not mind them.
She wailed, “Ging, Ging (referring to Manalo), tulungan mo kami! May tama kami! Si Emong, si Emong (Santiago) ‘yung kaklase mo! May tama kami!”
Manalo and Santiago are classmates at Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) batch 1996.
“Their eyes even met. Agnes read the lips of Superintendent Manalo cursing,” Morales said.
“Even if Manalo did not know them, it is every policeman’s duty to respond to those in need of help,” he added.
Imminent death
On April 12, Santiago met with the anti-drugs nongovernment organization led by Morales to show them the “link diagram” he prepared.
The link diagram showed the names of 26 policemen involved in cybersex operations and illegal drug activities.
Eleven of which are non-commissioned police personnel while the rest were police officials, mostly holding sensitive positions.
“Emong (Santiago) told us ‘napakulong na ako ni Sarmiento. May banta na si Robin. Papatayin ako,” Morales said.
Santiago was referring to Parañaque City Police deputy chief Superintendent Robin King Sarmiento–also his PNPA classmate.
He has been administratively relieved on Tuesday after he was found to have been allegedly linked to the killing.
Morales recalled that Sarmiento ordered his men to arrest Santiago after an encounter inside a conference room at Parañaque police headquarters. But after a few weeks, he was released.
Sarmiento also charged the slain policeman of Illegal Possession of Explosives after he allegedly saw a grenade at Santiago’s car.
“I asked Emong, ‘why were you detained?’ and then he said ‘because of this link diagram. I didn’t know that they’re already aware that I’m going to reveal their illegal activities,” he recalled.
The link diagram Santiago made was supposed to be brought to PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.
It did not, however, reach the office of Purisima until Santiago’s death.
But Morales clarified that they cannot prove that Manalo and Sarmiento are directly linked to their classmate’s death until they hear the sides of the two policemen.
He also said that he and the family of Santiago have been receiving death threats for being vocal on the policeman’s death.
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