Cop tagged in heist stalks alleged victim's family

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman who was recently transferred from the Caloocan City police for a string of criminal and administrative cases is reportedly harassing the relatives of one of his alleged victims.

Edna Edralin, 54, a widow who owns the Edralin Building that was reportedly robbed by a group led by Police Officer 3 Elpidio Manding last month, said the policeman often visits” her building and “threatened” to harm its caretaker. Three people were hurt during the robbery.

“Apart from personally going to my building, Manding is also sending me and my children text messages threatening to hurt us,” Edralin told The STAR.

She appealed yesterday to police authorities to look at “several cases” against Manding and “to take proper action.”

Manding, a former member of the Caloocan City police, was relieved and transferred recently to the National Capital Region Police Office due to his pending cases.

Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. earlier said Manding has pending administrative and criminal cases for “robbery, grave threats with robbery and absence without leave” at Caloocan City courts and the NCRPO legal office.

Pagdilao said that he already wrote the NCRPO “to speed up investigation of his cases and penalize him if he is guilty to clear the police organization of misfits and negative comments, or absolve him if found otherwise.”

According to Edralin, Manding has a standing warrant of arrest for grave threats case before a San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan court, apart from new charges of robbery with physical injuries her relatives filed before the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office in connection with the July robbery of her building.

Edralin said Manding is trying to get back at her after she evicted him from her building a few months ago. – Pete Laude