NBI-10 assistant regional director Hans Barbaso (left) shows the media Tuesday evening the CCTV footage of the alleged kidnapping of Enrique Fernandez III reportedly perpetrated by five police officers last month. The suspects are being kept in the NBI-10 detention cell at present. JIGGER J. JERUSALEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Five policemen were arrested here Tuesday for alleged kidnapping of a resident here last month.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it was looking into the case to know if the law enforcers were also involved in other illegal activities or if they were operating as a syndicate.
Authorities identified the suspects as Senior Insp. Ereneo Ramirez, PO3 Alejandro Ubanan, SPO2 Jojo Lim, SPO1 Alaindelon Tacubao and PO2 Sangkula Hussein.
Ramirez served as the head of the city police’s Crime Against Person and Property Desk, while the other suspects worked under him.
The suspects, who are detained in the NBI detention cell, were allegedly behind the kidnapping of Enrique Fernandez III, a former overseas Filipino worker, last October 23. Fernandez remains missing.
Lawyer Hans Barbaso, NBI assistant regional director, said they will be digging deeper into the alleged act perpetrated by the police officers and check if they were acting on their own or if they were part of a syndicate.
The agency, Barbaso said, will also probe if the suspects were involved in illegal drugs.
The policemen were arrested by NBI agents at the Philippine National Police regional headquarters at Camp Vicente Alagar, Barangay (village) Lapasan here last Tuesday.
He said it appeared that the policemen were not aware of the presence of the arresting agents.
Barbaso said the suspects did not resist arrest but requested the NBI operatives not to handcuff them.
During a press conference Tuesday evening, Barbaso showed the media the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage taken outside the establishment in Barangay Balulang where Fernandez was abducted.
The footage revealed the victim was mauled first by the law enforcers on the street and inside the van where he was transported elsewhere. His motorcycle was also taken.
The alleged kidnappers were identified by a witness and by police officials who saw the CCTV footage.
Barbaso said the suspects will be facing kidnapping and carnapping charges.
Although the family was glad that the suspects were arrested, Barbaso said the Fernandezes were hoping that the victim is still alive.
At press time, the suspects refused to grant interviews with the media to confirm or deny the accusation against them. RAM
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