SAF cop pleads 'not guilty' to pilot's kidnap-slay

A policewoman from the Special Action Force (SAF), a former Cavite vice mayor and their two co-accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and murdering a retired pilot and his driver in Cavite four months ago.

Chief Inspector Penelope Cautiver, former Dasmariñas, Cavite vice mayor Victor Carungcong, and Makati barangay tanod Alejandro Entolizo Jr. and pedicab driver Gary Pateo were arraigned before Judge Pedro Gutierrez of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 119 yesterday.

They were charged with the kidnapping and murder of Demosthenes Cañete, 67 and his driver Allan Garay, 26, last June 27.

Evangeline Malabanan, Cautiver’s lawyer, said her client was “hastily arrested” and denied the basic right to preliminary investigation.

“She was not properly notified,” she said. “There was no subpoena issued to her. She was not subjected to any preliminary investigation.”

Cautiver had been “unjustly dragged” into the case, Malabanan said. Cautiver’s husband, SAF training director Chief Inspector Exequiel Cautiver, along with Police Officer 1 Ric Selga have earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and kidnapping.

Two of their co-accused, Mariano de Leon Jr. and PO1 Reniel Abugado, remain at large.  – Rhodina Villanueva