Fiscal orders release of ‘detention’ cops

The Manila Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the release of four police officers who had been held in custody by the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) for allegedly detaining a pyramiding scam suspect at a hotel.

Superintendent Pancho Hubilla, Chief Inspectors Crisostomo Mendoza, Raymund Liguden and Jack Macabali were ordered released Friday from detention by a Manila fiscal "for further investigation."

Nevertheless, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Edgar Aglipay initiated yesterday summary dismissal proceedings against the four policemen.

"We should continue prosecuting them to serve as a stern warning to others that we do not tolerate such illegal acts in the PNP," Aglipay stated in his directive to Director Avelino Razon Jr., chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Aglipay ordered Chief Superintendent Doroteo Reyes, head of the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management (DIDM), to spearhead the summary dismissal proceedings against the four police officials for illegally detaining scam suspect Ireneo Espinocilla.

Espinocilla and his daughter, Armi Criselda, 20, were on board their car when blocked by Pajero-riding men near their residence at the Skyland Plaza in Makati City last Jan. 20.

Armi identified the two men as Mendoza and Macabali.

Earlier, police officials had served a warrant of arrest against Espinocilla for a non-bailable offense.

But instead of bringing Espinocilla and his daughter to a police station, the suspects drove them around Metro Manila and in Southern Luzon before taking them to Room 303 and 304 of the Solanie Hotel in Malate.

In an interview the other day, the daughter said their captors, apparently victimized in the investment scam, took turns in pressuring her father to return their money. She named a Jun Gonzales and a certain Francis as accomplices of the four police officers.

On the second day, Armi was released from captivity.

Espinocilla’s wife, Rhodora, 42, reported the "abduction" to Superintendent Bong Durana, head of PACER.

Durana headed a composite team from PACER, National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the NCRPO-SWAT in rescuing Espinocilla at the hotel.

Razon said Macabali and Mendoza were arrested inside the hotel. Hubilla and Liguden later surrendered.

Espinocilla and his wife, Rhodora are detained at the Makati City jail for six counts of estafa leaving their daughter to pursue the case against the four police officials.

Police filed charges of illegal detention and a violation of the law on the delivery of a detained person against the four with the Manila Prosecutor’s Office.

Sources said the chief inquest fiscal elevated the case to kidnapping, but later ordered the release of the four accused "for further investigation."

Razon said they will contest the decision before the Department of Justice (DOJ) tomorrow.

"I was ordered by General Aglipay to appeal the prosecutor’s ruling before the DOJ. We will prosecute the four erring officers to teach others a lesson that we are dead serious in cleaning our ranks of scalawags," Razon said.

The NCRPO will also recommend the summary dismissal of the four police officials from the police service.

Hubilla is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy Class ’83 while Mendoza, Macabali and Liguden belongs to the PNPA Class ’94.