Charges filed vs ‘kidnap’ cops

On the first working day of the year, Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said four policemen and a civilian police agent were charged for abducting and robbing a businessman in Manila last Monday.

Bulaong said PO2 Leonardo Doblados Lopez of the WPD-Station 8, PO2 Lutgardi Ramirez of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, PO3 Robinson de los Reyes of the PNP-Custodial Unit, a certain PO1 Baldovino and civilian agent Teotimo Castro III were charged with kidnapping and robbery at the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.

"I ordered them charged and disarmed. No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty," said Bulaong, who presented three suspects to the media. Baldovino and Castro remain at large.

A report from WPD-Station 8 head Superintendent Co Yee Co Jr. showed that the suspects allegedly abducted trader Quimal Pukunum, 29, in Quiapo last Dec. 30.

The trader said he was waiting for a taxi along Echague street when the suspects confronted him. One of the suspects poked a gun at him

While inside the suspects’ vehicle, Pukunum was blindfolded. He said the policemen threatened to charge him for selling drugs.

He escaped when a cop flagged down the suspects' vehicle in Makati. They later claimed they were conducting a legitimate drug operation, but failed to explain why they did not coordinate their actions with the WPD.