2 cops arrested inside Crame

Two Manila police officers, including a senior inspector, were arrested inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame for their alleged role in a P1.7-million kidnap-extort of a Chinese Filipino trader in Las Piñas and Manila last weekend.

PNP chief Director Hermogenes Edbane Jr. ordered the filing of summary dismissal charges against the police scalawags identified as Senior Inspector Wilfredo Abordo and PO1 Sieroma Prudente, both assigned with the anti-drug team of the Western Police District Station 8.

"This is a result of the combined effort of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force. These two are supposed to be officers and gentlemen, but they crossed the line," Edbane said.

Now donning orange T-shirts intended for criminals, Abordo and Prudente were presented to media during a press conference yesterday at the PNP conference room.

"We will look into other incidents possibly involving these police officers," Edbane said.

Abordo and Prudente were arrested by combined operatives of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force and the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response shortly after the two attended an anti-drug conference at the AIDSOTF main office at Camp Crame.

The PNP has placed under intensive monitoring possible cohorts of the duo also assigned at WPD Station 8, investigators said.

During the press conference, Edbane also ordered the relief of WPD station 8 commander Superintendent Efren Perez, citing command responsibility.

"As of now, he will be relieved," Edbane said.

The PNP chief also ordered WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong to scout for the replacement of Perez.

Abordo is a member of PNP Academy Class of 1998.

Police investigators alleged that Abordo and Prudente had been involved in a string of illegal police operations in Las Piñas starting June 5. They first picked up a certain Amado Manansala at around 2 p.m. near at the SM South Mall in Las Piñas in a bid to locate Filipino Chinese trader Benito Chua, whose brother was reportedly tagged in illegal drug activities in the past.

During questioning, the suspects pressured Manansala into giving information on the whereabouts of Chua. Manansala eventually informed them of Chua’s routine and the plate number of his Toyota Revo which later became the WPD policemen’s subject of operations that day.

Manansala was allowed to go in the so-called "palit-ulo" operation, which is police parlance for tipping information against suspected criminals in exchange of saving one’s neck.

Abordo’s group then pounced on a certain Akok and took his Toyota Corolla Altis (XJW-719). The operatives mistook Akok for Chua.

Chua was eventually abducted by the group in Las Piñas last Sunday and later taken aboard his blue Toyota Revo (WPW-208) to the vicinity of WPD Station 8, where negotiations for "ransom" took place.

Police investigators told The STAR that Abordo’s group demanded P50 million in ransom from Chua’s wife, Betina. The amount was reduced to P2 million, but the family was only able to raise P1.7 million.

Chua sought police assistance after he was released by his captors last Sunday. He was freed after payment of P1.7 million was made.

Investigators received a breakthrough when they traced the suspects’ call to Abordo and Prudente. The duo called Chua to provide them with the certificate of registration of the Toyota Revo, which the erring cops also took as part of the ransom payment.

During confrontation, Abordo admitted that his team arrested three men for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, but the case did not prosper for lack of evidence.

He also admitted receiving the P1.7 million paid by the Chua’s wife.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Ricardo de Leon warned his commanders anew in Metro Manila against involvement in the railroading drug cases and other criminal activities.