Cop tagged in student’s slay nabbed in Makati

A policeman linked to the brutal slaying of a student in Cavite five years ago has been arrested inside the office of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Makati City.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Police Officer 3 Victor Bernardino, a resident of Bulihan in Silang, Cavite.

Bernardino was implicated in the slaying of Jericho Jereza, a student, last Nov. 26, 1998. His chopped and charred body was found inside the Bulihan Cemetery. The body was later identified by his father through his clothes.

Lawyer Sixto Comia, chief of the NBI-Criminal Investigation Division, claimed to have received information that Bernardino would be appearing at the Napolcom office, prompting them to coordinate with officials of the Commission.

Agents of the NBI arrested Bernardino when he appeared at the Napolcom office last Aug. 6.

The NBI had investigated the incident involving the Jereza slay and later filed charges in court against nine suspects, including Jose Serwelas.

Apart from Serwelas also charged were Victor, Antonio, Jose, and Ireneo, all surnamed Serwelas, Rodel Gleponio, Randy Berlin, Ruben Martinez and Roberto Cortez.

Subsequently, the court issued a warrant of arrest against all the suspects, which led to the arrest of Jose Serwelas, Cortez and Martinez in 2001.

The NBI is now trying to locate the other suspects.