Lee’s captor Capa to be cited by crime fighters’ group

Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—On Monday, crime fighters will honor Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, who was sacked and banished after arresting a fugitive real estate developer who had allegedly defrauded the state shelter agency of P7 billion in housing loans.

Capa, former head of the Philippine National Police’s Task Force Tugis, said he had found comfort in the accolades and words of encouragement from the public.

“I’m surprised by the public support. Even parking attendants are congratulating me,” said Capa, whose outburst in the media against PNP Director General Alan Purisima brought to light the promotion system in the force.

Capa, who was relieved by Purisima as head of Tugis one week after the task force arrested fugitive real estate developer Delfin Lee on March 6, will be honored Monday by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) in a ceremony at Xevera Subdivision in Mabalacat City in Pampanga.

Buyers of homes at Xevera have accused Lee of defrauding them through the “double selling” of houses in the subdivision that were built with P7 billion in financing from the Home Development Mutual Fund, or Pag-Ibig Fund.

Capa, who was reassigned as deputy regional director for operations of the Central Visayas police office in Cebu City, said he had found “a sense of accomplishment” in the victims of the alleged housing scam who had been thanking him for arresting Lee.

Despite Capa’s protest, Purisima insisted that his transfer to Cebu was a promotion.

“I only have to look at the numerous victims of Delfin Lee to feel a sense of accomplishment. My reward is seeing the victims’ renewed faith in the justice system and the people’s confidence in the PNP,” Capa said.

One of Purisima’s closest subordinates prior to their falling out, Capa maintained the PNP chief had promised to promote him to chief superintendent, a star rank equivalent to brigadier general in the military, if he agreed to head Task Force Tugis.

Purisima himself created the task force in August 2013 to arrest five high-profile fugitives, one of whom was Lee.

Capa admitted he was nine days short of completing his six-month tour of duty as deputy director for operations of the Southern Police District last year, which would have cleared the way for his promotion to chief superintendent.—Marlon Ramos