Two Pasig City policemen are facing kidnapping and frustrated homicide charges for allegedly trying to kill two cell phone vendors last May 15 after the victims’ kin failed to come up with P100,000 for their release.
Jamil Macarimbong, 26, named Senior Police Officer 1 Carlo Luna and PO1 Michael Fernandez as his “abductors and executioners.” His fellow vendor, Wahabe Salik, 26, is still in critical condition at the Rizal Medical Center due to several bullet wounds.
Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, head of the National Capital Region (NCR) office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Luna and Fernandez have gone into hiding after Macarimbong filed a complaint before his office last Tuesday.
Macarimbong alleged that he and Salik were about to sell their wares in Barangay Pinagbuhatan when three armed men, who identified themselves as policemen from Camp Crame, dragged them into a car without license plates. The two vendors were tied up and blindfolded.
One of the suspects called up Macarimbong’s wife, Sumaira, and demanded P100,000 for the victims’ liberty. The suspect turned off his cell phone when Sumaira said she only has P5,000.
Macarimbong said they were brought to a vacant lot in Taytay, Rizal, where they were repeatedly shot by the suspects. He said he survived by playing dead. When the suspects left, the vendors were rushed to the hospital.
After recovering from his wounds, Macarimbong, accompanied by a relative, filed a complaint with the CIDG-NCR.
Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias has ordered Luna and Fernandez disarmed. He also directed Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo dela Cruz to present the two policemen before the CIDG to give them a chance to air their side. – Non Alquitran