Cop in trouble for ‘robbing’ suicide victim
A Manila policeman is facing possible dismissal for allegedly stealing the wallet of a man who committed suicide last week.
An administrative complaint will be filed against SPO4 Noel Villamor for grave misconduct, according to Chief Insp. Arsenio Riparip, head of the Manila Police District’s general assignments section.
Villamor was among the policemen from the Sta. Cruz station who responded when the wife of Al Santiago, 46, reported his suicide on Christmas Day. Santiago, a tailor, hanged himself inside his shop at Central Market after an argument with his wife, Nenita.
According to the case investigator, PO3 Cesar Bianes, Villamor and his team found coins, IDs and cell phones at the shop, which they immediately turned over to the widow. However, Nenita alleged that she saw Villamor take her husband’s wallet.
After Nenita complained to the MPD, Villamor—who claimed that he only kept the wallet for “safekeeping”—returned it along with P5,000 in cash to the widow Tuesday night.
But she insisted that the wallet had P15,000 when Villamor took it, Bianes said. Santiago had that sum of money that day because the couple had just sold a sewing machine, the investigator added, quoting Nenita.
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If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Their crisis hotlines are available at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-USAP (8727), 0966-351-4518, and 0908-639-2672. For more information, visit their website: (https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline)
Alternatively, you can contact Hopeline PH at the following numbers: 0917-5584673, 0918-8734673, 88044673. Additional resources are available at ngf-mindstrong.org, or connect with them on Facebook at Hopeline PH.
