Cop charged with murder in Navotas hunted

Agents of the Northern Police District intelligence unit are hot on the trail of a National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) cop charged with two others for the killing of a civilian eight months ago in the coastal town of Navotas.

Police Officer 2 Luisito Capulong, assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Group (RHSG-NCRPO), reportedly went into hiding and failed to report for work following the arrest of one of his fellow accused, Bienvenido Villan Jr.

The NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU) arrested Villan, 29, a native of Lasang, Davao City at his residence at 35 Catleya Interior, Road 10, North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas at around 3:50 p.m. Tuesday.

According to Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., NPD-DPIU chief, Capulong, Villan and one Atoy Macas are facing murder charges at the Malabon City Regional Trial Court for the murder of Maximo de la Rama last Feb.17 in Navotas.

Judge Benjamin Antonio of Malabon City RTC Branch 170 issued Tuesday a warrant of arrest for murder against the three suspects that resulted in the immediate apprehension of Villan.

Ramos, using Capulong’s wife’s mobile phone, tried to convince the police officer to give up peacefully and just face the charges filed against him in court.

Capulong reportedly promised Ramos that he would surrender the soonest possible time but he went into hiding instead and never returned to his unit last week.

This prompted the NPD-DPIU to launch a manhunt against the policeman-suspect and his co-accused in coordination with the RHSG-NCRPO.