Police also to investigate Edsa robbery-kidnapping victims

Victims in the gun-toting and assault incident along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) in Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City last September 1, 2014 have their heads and faces covered during the press conference held at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines—To strike a balance between the claims of the victims and policemen involved in the robbery and kidnapping incident on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa), police will also look into the background of the Lanao del Sur-based victims.

Police Director Carmelo Valmoria, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said on Wednesday in a press briefing that the police will investigate the profile ‎of the owner and driver of the white Toyota Fortuner who the suspects intercepted on Edsa last September 1.

Some La Loma Police Station personnel allegedly held up Ustadz Samanodin Abdul Gafur and Camal Mama on Edsa after the two were sent by their boss Engineer Cariong Malik to Manila from Lanao del Sur carrying P2 million cash.

Police said according to the victims, the‎ cash was intended to buy a heavy equipment in a bidding at Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for a road construction project.

One of the suspects, Chief Inspector Joseph de Vera, initially claimed that the alleged robbery was a legitimate illegal drugs operation against the victims.

But the police found no entry in the station’s blotter that there would be a drugs operation on the afternoon September 1. There was no coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

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‎”The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Wack Wack is coordinating with law enforcement agencies and counterpart police units in Mindanao to get information on the background of Ustadz and Malik,” Valmoria said.

Valmoria said Malik went to the Eastern Police District (EPD) to submit an affidavit and present to the police a “video s‎howing him handing the P2 million to Ustadz.”

Lawyer Jinky Dimaporo, counsel of the victims, meanwhile said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM that their camp can present a withdrawal slip ‎to prove that the money came from Malik’s account.

Dimaporo said the P2 million came from Malik’s hard-earned money.

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