Ex-PNP Central Luzon chief now heads Task Force Tugis

MANILA, Philippines - A former police chief of Central Luzon is the new head of Task Force Tugis, replacing controversial Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima has designated Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao, who also headed the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation-Northern Luzon (DIPO-NL), to lead the task force tracking down fugitives. 

“Ladao is known for his investigative skills. He is competent to head the TF Tugis,” said Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the PNP-Public Information Office.  Before his DIPO-NL assignment, however, Ladao was the director of PNP-Central Luzon during which he was put on the spot when he denied to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas the existence of jueteng operations in the region. But unknown to Ladao, Roxas’ men were able to give bets to jueteng bookies in Pampanga. Roxas gave Ladao a dressing down. 

Ladao, who was at the time projected to get the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) portfolio, then ended up at the DIPO-NL.

Capa, now the Central Visayas deputy regional director for operations, was transferred from his post in TF Tugis days after his team arrested Globe Asiatic owner Delfin Lee, who was wanted for P6.6- billion questionable housing projects in Bacolor and Mabalacat towns in Pampanga.

Capa openly criticized the PNP leadership for his transfer. 

The CIDG has listed 1,313 fugitives, including the “Big 4” – retired General Jovito Palparan, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, and Dinagat Island ex-representative Ruben Ecleo Jr. 

Palparan is facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases for the disappearance of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeo and Sherlyn Cadapan. He is also tagged in alleged human rights abuses while he was with the military.

The Reyes brothers are wanted for the murder of Palawan-based environmentalist and broadcaster Gerardo Ortega. 

Ecleo has been in hiding since his conviction for parricide by the Cebu City Regional Trial Court for killing his wife Alona Bacolod. He was sentenced to 40 years in jail.

A P2-million cash reward awaits anyone who could give information leading to the arrest of each big-name fugitive.