7 Las Piñas antidrug operatives tagged in kidnapping case surrender

After a week in hiding, the seven Las Piñas police antidrug operatives accused of kidnapping a suspect whom they had arrested finally surrendered.

The seven policemen were informed by Southern Police District (SPD) director, Senior Supt. Eliseo Cruz, that criminal charges of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention had been filed against them in the Cavite Regional Trial Court.

On top of this, they were also facing an administrative case  for grave misconduct which, if proven, could lead to their dismissal from the police service.

PO3 Joel Lupig, PO2 Vener Guanlao, and  Police Officers 1  Erickson Rivera, Jason Arellano,  Mark Jefferson Fulgencio, Jeffrey de Leon and  Raymart Gomez went to the SPD headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, accompanied by their relatives and lawyer Prosencio Jaso.

Rivera was the first to send surrender feelers, and eventually turned himself to Senior Supt. Ruel de Leon of the National Capital Region Police Office – Regional Intelligence Unit.

A drug suspect had accused them of arresting him in Silang, Cavite for allegedly selling marijuana on Nov. 21. He said they contacted his relatives and demanded P200,000 in exchange for his freedom.

Authorities set up an entrapment operation but the policemen escaped arrest.