Cardeño had his chance

Fugitive police officer Rafael Cardeño failed to surrender Thursday, prompting Task Force Cervantes commander, Chief Superintendent Romeo Maganto, to commence a manhunt for him.

Maganto also announced that the P500,000 reward money for information leading to the arrest of Cardeño and his alleged accomplice, Sonny Camacho, has been increased to P1 million by the Office of the President (OP).

Cardeño has been tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Baron Alexander Cervantes, the self-styled spokesperson of the Young Officers’ Union, last Dec. 31, 2001 in Las Piñas City.

Maganto said in a phone interview that he already knew early Thursday night that Cardeño would not surrender.

In a meeting at a Makati City hotel, Cardeño’s lawyer, Homobono Adaza, gave Maganto a letter enumerating the reasons why the police officer would not surrender.

"Cardeño fears for his life and safety," Maganto said. "But I still waited until midnight and hoped that he would change his mind."

He said Cardeño was even allowed to surrender to a mistah, or a classmate at the Philippine Military Academy, if it would make him feel more secure.

The manhunt for Cardeño would be carried out by task force members composed of Maganto’s former subordinates when he was still Southern Police District director and PNP commanding general.

Maganto said Cardeño is still in Metro Manila after more than a year in hiding.

But he did not discount the possibility that the suspect is being guarded by supporters and sympathizers who could be armed.

"We will observe all precautionary measures and follow the rules of engagement," Maganto said. "I still appeal to Cardeño and his family for his peaceful surrender. He should submit himself to the authorities."

He also said the task force does not have to coordinate its manhunt operations with the Philippine National Police (PNP), contrary to the earlier statements by officials.

Maganto reiterated that his orders were to report directly to the OP, through National Security Adviser Roilo Golez.

He appealed to PNP officials to refrain from making "irresponsible statements" and urged them to help get the suspects.

In a radio interview, Maganto said this would erase the public’s perception that people in the PNP are protecting Cardeño.

Last week, Maganto and Adaza met to discuss Cardeño’s "voluntary surrender." Cardeño was given one week to surrender.

Maganto said among the conditions Cardeño set for his surrender was that he be detained at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. He requested that he not be handcuffed if presented to the media.

Maganto said he and Golez approved the requests.

When asked about the seeming "special treatment" for Cardeño, Maganto replied: "He is the chairman of YOU. He has the clout. This is why the Cervantes family is so disgusted, disappointed, and frustrated that they had to go to President Arroyo just to make sure that Cardeño would be arrested."

It was the President who instructed PNP chief Deputy Director Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane to raise the bounty during a meeting with the Cervantes family last year.

The Cervantes’ lamented that it took Ebdane three months to announce the bounty and when he finally did, they were dismayed at the measly amount.

Maganto said the task force provided the additional P500,000 to the amount allotted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The task force was created by Mrs. Arroyo upon the request of the Cervantes family after the supposedly lukewarm efforts of the PNP to arrest Cardeño.

They also asked the President to appoint Maganto as its head.