10 CIDG cops face kidnap raps

MANILA, Philippines - A police official from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and nine of his men were charged Wednesday for the illegal arrest of a businessman last Feb. 19.

Senior Superintendent Rex Acabado was charged with kidnapping, illegal detention and extortion before the Office of the Ombudsman by Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, chief of the CIDG’s National Capital Region office.

The charge sheet also included Acabado’s men – identified only as Senior Inspector E. Llano, Senior Police Officer 4 E. Imson, SPO3 A. Barangan, SPO3 E. Daria, SPO2 L. Velarde, SPO2 J. Taguba, and SPO1s D. Gonzales, J. Sawadjaan and R. Quiton – as respondents.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr. also ordered the filing of administrative charges against Acabado and his men.

Fajardo earlier reported that businessman Jacky Wang’s brother, Alex, approached him and told him that Wang had been arrested on false charges.

Acabado’s men were armed with an arrest warrant for Michael Ciu and identified Wang as Ciu. Wang said the policemen reportedly planted two sachets of shabu in his vehicle and demanded P5 million for his release.

They later released Wang, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity, after Alex paid them P500,000 for his release, Fajardo alleged.