3 cops nabbed for Laguna mall kidnapping

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Philippines – Three junior police officers were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping four men at a commercial center in this city Sunday night, police said yesterday.

PO3 Diogenes Suarez, PO2 Obed Anonuevo and PO1 Roberto Manalo of the Quezon City police’s intelligence division were detained at the Calamba City police station and charged before the Calamba City prosecutor’s office.

Initial investigation showed that one of the policemen, who were all wearing civilian clothes, took the first man at the commercial center at around 5:30 p.m. and handcuffed him inside a white Toyota Altis  (XGH-120).

The three other victims, identified only as Lito Kalaw, Hernandez and alias Toto, were taken after several minutes.

The mall’s security guards, who noticed the commotion when the three men were for-cibly taken, reported the incident to the police, who immediately conducted a dragnet operation.

Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, said the suspects were arrested when their vehicle was pulled over at a checkpoint set up by policemen. The victims have  also been rescued.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, said further investigation is ongoing.