9 Manila cops in murder raps face technical arrest

The nine Western Police District officers who were allegedly behind the "rubout" of two suspected Muslim terrorist men in Quiapo last year, are set to be placed under technical arrest.

This was disclosed by WPD director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr., who said that he is waiting for the transmittal of the arrest warrants for the accused officers from the Department of Justice.

"I am just waiting for the transmittal of the arrest warrants before I give the order to restrict them to headquarters," Razon said in an interview.

The DOJ filed two counts of murder with no bail recommended against Senior Police Officer 4 Wilson Tibor, president of Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association; SPO4 Remigio Estacio, SPO3 Edgardo Abaga, SPO4 Julian Siriban, SPO2 Eduardo Ramos, Police Officer 3 Randy Dimayuga, PO3 Ronald Hernandez, PO2 Philip Malindog and PO1 Ignacio Garlan following the filing of the charges with the Manila Regional Trial Court last Wednesday.

All nine accused were members of the District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU) when the killings occurred at the height of a bomb scare in Metro Manila. One of the original accused, SPO4 Benedicto Rodriguez, was cleared of any involvement in the incident after it was established that he was not at the scene of the killings.

Victims of the alleged murders were Esmael Omar, 35, of Tukamanes, Cotabato City; and Akmad Samin, 40, also of Cotabato City.

The accused policemen earlier claimed that they were on a surveillance operation when the incident happened at about 5 p.m. on Arlegui street corner Duque de Alba street in Quiapo, Manila. – Mike Frialde