Lim issues 'shoot to kill' order vs 5 cops in ransom theft case

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim issued yesterday an order for law enforcers to “shoot to kill” five Manila Police District (MPD) who disappeared after allegedly stealing P12.1 million from a P16.3-million ransom recovered from suspects in the kidnapping of a Malaysian businessman last week.

Lim, during a press conference held at the Manila City Hall, identified the five MPD Station 5 policemen as Senior Inspector Peter Nervisa, SPO3 Ernesto Peralta, PO3 Jefferson Britanico, PO3 Mike Ongpauco and PO1 Rommel Ocampo.

“I am going to issue now a shoot-to-kill order against these five police officers. It’s a drastic move because these people are armed and have not surrendered their firearms,” he said.

The shoot-to-kill order, according to Lim, would only apply if the policemen resist arrest.

“If in the course of the arrest the apprehending officers are fired at, they have no choice but to protect their own lives,” he said.

Lim said the five policemen have not reported since last Friday and are considered AWOL (absent without official leave). They have been relieved of their duties as policemen of the MPD, he said.

MPD Station 5 commander Superintendent Felipe Cazon Jr. has also been relieved by the National Capital Region Police Office while an investigation is being conducted. MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said Cazon will be on floating status at the MPD headquarters in Manila during the investigation.

Lim said Nervisa sent a text message to Cazon castigating him for cooperating with the investigation. He said Nervisa “is now hostile. This one will fight.”

Lim cited that there is a Supreme Court decision stating that any police officer or member of a law enforcement agency, from the moment he commits a crime, ceases to be a member of the law enforcement agency. “And so it could be construed that he (Nervisa) should be considered as an ordinary criminal,” he said.

Lim said the five policemen disappeared while they were being investigated by MPD general assignment section head Chief Inspector Mar Reyes last Friday. “Why did they flee? An investigation goes two ways. They can be cleared… Flight is an indication of guilt,” he said.