Commander, scores of Batasan police officers suspended

At least forty policemen in Batasan Police Station in Quezon City were sacked when two of their former colleagues, allegedly involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities, were arrested last Tuesday.

Supt. Victor Pagulayan, the commander of Batasan police, was among at least forty police officers who were ordered relieved after operatives from Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit arrested two policemen and their cohorts at the police station in Batasan Hills. He will be replaced by Supt. Robert Sales.

PO1 Adrian Momo, 29; PO1 Puut Piya, 37, both under the personnel holding and accounting unit of the National Capital Region Police Office, and seven other suspects were arrested for kidnapping five victims and asking ransom in exchange for their release.

Momo was also linked in a similar kidnap-for-ransom case in Marikina but the victim did not press criminal charges against him.

Piya was also accused of violating anti-fencing and robbery in 2003 and was implicated in another case of robbery, grave threats and physical injury last April.

Other suspects were identified as Joseph Jerome Rocha, 37; Reynaldo Bermina, 30; Rodolfo Basister, 41; Franelyn Mangadap, 38; Jonathan Junsay, 26, all from Quezon City, Henry Tesalona, 31; and Jun Santos, 41 from San Mateo, Rizal.

In a report, Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, QCPD CIDU chief, said Piya and his three cohorts on Tuesday afternoon flagged down two vehicles boarded by Calvin Noche, Catherine Borleo, Leo Gaerlan and Rainer Ocampo and “arrested” them for alleged illegal drug violation.

Two of the suspects then took the keys of the victims’ Pajero (XGF-707) and Honda Jazz (BCW-388) and drove them to an unknown place.

Meanwhile, the victims were brought at a safe house inside a cock farm at Ismael Subdivision, Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal.

Borleo, Gaerlan and Ocampo were released but not Noche, who was forced to sign a sale contract with a stipulated amount of P300,000 in exchange for the said Pajero.

The suspects also demanded P500,000 from the Noche’s parents in exchange for the release of their son. They eventually reduced the ransom amount to P100,000.

The parents, who were only able to raise P50,000, sought help from QCPD CIDU in Camp Karingal before paying the ransom.

Later that day, Noche was released in front of the gate of Samaka Village in Quezon City after the suspects received payout of the ransom money that was sent through money transfer service.

The CIDU then sent operatives to their safe house at Don Enrique Heights where they first brought Noche before he was taken to the cock farm. There police arrested Magadap and Junsay.

Subsequently, Tesalona and Santos were arrested in the San Mateo safe house.

After arresting suspects in Quezon City and San Mateo, PO1 Momo, PO1 Piya, Rocha, Bermina and Basister were collared inside the Batasan Police Station compound where they also rescued another victim.

Police found the 18-year-old victim named Larry Jade Siervo inside a Starex Van with ZNE 183 plate number.

Police also discovered inside the van assorted long and short firearms and several rounds of ammunition, two bulletproof vests, and sling bags.

Marcelo said Noche’s Pajero was recovered on Thursday afternoon along Kagawad Street corner Senatorial Road in Batasan Hills while the Honda Jazz of other victims was found last Wednesday along USAFE Street in Barangay Holy Spirit.

The arrested suspects were brought to the office of Assistant City Prosecutor Rodrigo Del Rosario who recommended the filing of case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against Piya, Tesalona, Beronilla, Santos and Basister with no bail recommended.

Piya will also face a carnapping charge while a case for violation of the anti-fencing law will be lodged against Mangadap.

For Momo, Marcelo said all his charges were recommended for regular preliminary investigation on the basis of request for Preliminary Investigation and Waiver of Rights under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code. IDL