MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was arrested Friday while posing as an official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the wake of slain Ozamiz gang leader Ricky Cadavero in Muntinlupa City.
Police Officer 3 Richard Ecleo Ebrada reportedly approached Cadavero’s sister Rosalinda in Eastern Funeral Homes and introduced himself as an official of the CHR, saying he needed to interview her regarding her brother’s death.
Rosalinda, however, said the officer-in-charge of the CHR and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had been to the funeral earlier in the day.
She said Ebrada wanted to talk to her outside the funeral parlor, but when she asked for identification, he could not present any.
Rosalinda brought up the issue to the CHR and NBI. When confronted, Ebrada introduced himself as a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) counter-intelligence group.
Ebrada claimed he was ordered by Chief Superintendent Abelardo Villacorta to get Rosalinda’s contact number to ask if she knew other policemen who were involved in the death of her brother.
Ebrada was brought to the NBI headquarters in Manila. Seized from him was a .9mm Glock pistol.
“We do not want private individuals or institutions to try to sabotage our investigations. We do not want them to harass the complainants or relatives of victims,†Ferdinand Lavin, designated spokesman of the NBI’s Task Force Cadavero, told ABS-CBN.
Ebrada is currently detained at the NBI headquarters for investigation and could face charges of usurpation of authority.
Rosalinda earlier expressed fears that their lives are in danger following the killing of her brother and another gang member, Wilfredo Panogalinga.
Cadavero and Panogalinga were arrested and later killed by their policemen escorts while being transported back to the national penitentiary.
The police said the two tried to grab the firearms of their escorts in their attempt to escape.
The killing prompted widespread investigations on allegations they were silenced to prevent them from revealing their protectors.
The NBI is now looking into the allegations of rubout.