Ex-police official, 3 others demand P275K ‘ransom’ for stolen car

A dismissed police superintendent and three others were arrested by the anticarnapping unit of the Southern Police District (SPD-Dancar) in Pasay City on Thursday after the suspects asked for P275,000 to redeem a stolen car pawned to their group.

Supt. Raul Ramos was collared in an entrapment operation at the corner of Sunrise Avenue and Harbor Drive at SM Mall of Asia around 11:30 p.m.

Supt. Celerino Sacro, chief of SPD-Dancar, told the Inquirer the 60-year-old Ramos was dismissed in 2013 after facing administrative charges.

Casino financier

After his dismissal, Ramos worked as casino financier, lending money to those playing in casinos in southern Metro Manila.

Also arrested were his agents Moretha de los Reyes, aka “Mayeth,” 61, a real estate agent of a subdivision in Bacoor, Cavite; Jose Madrigal, 51, a legal assistant of a law firm  in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and Lolita Ramos, 58, a resident of Makati City.

Sacro said the suspects were asking for P275,000 for them to return a silver Toyota HiAce with conduction sticker A5M884, which is owned by Chinese national Fulin Zhang.

According to Sacro, Zhang’s driver, Roller Jolo, 30, drove the HiAce out of his residence in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, on May 1.

New hire

Jolo, a resident of Barangay Pagsawitan in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, was hired by Zhang only on April 4 through an agency, CYX Manpower Service.

Zhang reported to authorities that his van was stolen after Jolo did not return for work after a month.