THREE Quezon City policemen were arrested by their colleagues while two others are being hunted for allegedly detaining, mauling and extorting a man whom they accused of selling illegal drugs in San Juan City, police said Wednesday.
PO1 Crispin Cartagenas, assigned at the QC Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, PO1 Israel Cerezo and PO1 Emmanuel Tabora, both assigned at Cubao Police Station, were nabbed on Tuesday after arresting 34-year-old vendor Rey Manlapaz for allegedly selling drugs to his friend.
Police also arrested John Mark Castaneda, who “tipped off” the police about Manlapaz’ illegal activities while two other policemen, PO1 Christian Felipe and PO1 Antonio Timario, are still at large.
In an interview with the media at Camp Karingal, Manlapaz said he’s innocent of the police’s accusations against him. He said the arresting officers held him for drug peddling and possessing illegal firearms and bladed weapon.
He said he was about to do the laundry in his house at 2 a.m. Tuesday when Castaneda called and asked him to meet up. Manlapaz then instructed Castaneda to meet him in Barangay (village) Salapan in San Juan City.
The three police officers suddenly showed up and arrested Manlapaz when Castaneda showed him money.
“Bigla akong dinakma, pinosasan, sinakay ako sa motor, may dalawa pang motor sakay pulis. Naka-civilian pero nagpakilalang pulis. Dinala ako sa Arayat Precinct (in Cubao). Doon ako binugbog ng pulis na nanghuli sa akin. Nagising ‘yung isang lasing na pulis na natutulog. Doon pinagtulungan ako,” he recounted.
“May nakuha daw sa akin na baril, kutsilyo, pinagbabawal na gamot. Hiningian ako ng P30,000 ng mga pulis, sabi areglo o asunto? Sabi ko makikipagtulungan na lang ako sa kanila,” he added.
While in the precinct, police allowed Manlapaz to contact his brother Zaldy, who reported the incident to San Juan Police around 11 a.m.
“Nabasa nila (ng police) sa text na humingi kapatid ko ng tulong sa ibang pulis. Pinagmumura na ako. Takot na takot ako. Nagmamakaawa ako. Binugbog ako sa dibdib, tadyang, tinulak sa rehas,” Manlapaz said.
In the spot report, Zaldy said someone sent him a text message telling him to meet up near Arayat Market along Arayat Street in Cubao for the release of Manlapaz. It was then the Cubao Police Station formed a team to arrest Cartagenas and his accomplices.
Later in the day, police arrested Tabora in his home around 11 p.m.
Manlapaz maintained that he had no drugs and gun in his possession. He vowed to file charges against the policemen and Castaneda
Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, QCPD director, said, in a check with San Juan police, Manlapaz had no drugs record.
“(Also), they (policemen) are not members of the anti-illegal drugs unit. Wala silang authority na manghuli about illegal drugs,” he said.
Pagdilao said they will also file robbery complaints against the policemen after taking Manlapaz’ ring worth P7,000.
While the QCPD is going after Felipe and Timario, who have gone absent without leave since the incident, it will file administrative cases of grave misconduct against them and other police suspects.
The arrested policemen will be charged with unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, robbery, attempted robbery, and slight physical injury. AC