Unborn of 'salvage' try victim dies; 2 cops face more raps

MANILA, Philippines – The two Rizal policemen involved in the “salvage” try on a pregnant woman, a witness in an extortion case against them, are now facing more trouble as the victim’s unborn died Monday.

Aside from the abduction with homicide case filed against them, PO1 Antenor Mariquit and PO2 Mario Natividad now face charges of unintentional abortion, said Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Calabarzon police director.

Pagdilao said they would move to amend the charges against Mariquit and Natividad who have not yet posted the P200,000 bail set by the Pagsanjan, Laguna prosecutor’s office for their temporary liberty.

Pagdilao said the two policeman’s companion, a certain Toto, is being hunted.

According to reports reaching Pagdilao, the 22-year-old victim, who was recovering from 24 stab wounds and a gunshot wound in the right thigh, suffered miscarriage in a Laguna hospital last Monday. She was in her fourth month of pregnancy.

Pagdilao said the victim worked as an “asset” of Mariquit and Natividad, both belonging to the Cainta, Rizal police.

However, the two policemen got reports that she would testify against them “so they tried to silence her,” said Pagdilao in an interview.

The two lawmen and Toto allegedly snatched her in Angono, Rizal last week, gagged and tied her up and repeatedly stabbed and shot her before dumping her in a ravine in Pagsanjan town.

But she managed to untie herself using a shard of glass and climbed her way up the cliff where residents spotted her and rushed her to the hospital.