Pasig's top cop denies plan to arrest reporter

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasig police is not out to arrest reporter Fernan Angeles on drug charges, city police chief Senior Superintendent Jessie Cardona said yesterday.

“We have never talked about the warrant of arrest for Angeles” for illegal drug possession, which stemmed from an incident in February 2011, Cardona said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo had earlier ordered an investigation into an apparent effort to twist the investigation’s focus away from the men who beat up and shot Angeles last March 11 near his home.

Cardona said investigators are focused on hunting down two more suspects in the attack on Angeles last March 11 near his home. “We have filed charges of frustrated murder against Faisal (Sangcopan) and two other suspects, who remain at large,” he said.

Angeles whispered Sangcopan’s name to his wife shortly after the attack and identified the suspect when police showed him a photo. He is recuperating from seven gunshot wounds and other injuries at the Pasig City General Hospital.