Police official sacked, faces murder charges

A RANKING official of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) was relieved from his post after kidnapping and murder charges were filed against him.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo said Supt. Rommel Miranda told him that he is ready to face the charges filed against him in relation to the death of a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman in Laguna.

The victim identified as Lea Angeles Ng of Quezon City was found in a septic tank of an abandoned warehouse in Laguna last Feb. 23.

Garbo said he wasn’t able to  verify reports that Miranda moonlighted as a debt collector for the victim.

Police said Ng’s husband was a Chinese businessman and an executive officer of the Cebu-based Metro Gaisano mall chain.

Miranda served as deputy chief of the PRO-7’s communications and electronic division (Comel). But Garbo said Miranda was not under his custody.

Garbo said he learned of Miranda’s case from the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (KNG) and called up the police official afterwards.

He said he received an order from Camp Crame to relieve Miranda and re-assign him to Comel in Camp Crame.

Garbo said he invited Miranda, an engineer, to work for him in PRO-7 since he considered him a good officer with no derogatory records.

He said Miranda even finished his law studies abroad. Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan