SOME members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are again treading the risky and menacing path of crime, obviously to line their pockets by using whatever power they have to threaten their victims into submission, and finally to fleece them.
Last week, four policemen were arrested for their involvement in the kidnapping-for-ransom of four foreigners in Pasay City. They were a police major assigned to the Pasay Police Station, and three police sergeants assigned to the Makati Police Station and the National Capital Region Police Office.
The suspects were presented to reporters by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, along with National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. With the number of times Secretary Abalos has been called to present suspects in various crimes such as illegal drugs and kidnapping, one would wonder how he is able to run the DILG’s everyday operations.
Well, policemen going astray usually belong to the same unit, and probably with the tacit consent or even encouragement from their immediate superiors. But the four policemen suspected of kidnapping foreigners for ransom belonged to different units, with even a traffic policeman starting the whole evil scenario by flagging the victims’ vehicle for a supposed traffic violation. This smacks of an even sinister criminal conspiracy inside the police organization.
‘General Marbil has a lot of work to do here.’
Abalos said a Malaysian and three Chinese tourists were stopped over a fake traffic violation and loaded into a waiting van, then taken to an undisclosed safehouse. The house proved not too safe, as two of the victims managed to escape and reported the incident to barangay officials. The two remaining captives were released on June 3 after a ransom of P2.5 million was paid. The four policemen were arrested during a follow-up operation that same day.
Abalos said police recovered two motorcycles used in the abduction, a PNP-issued firearm, two mobile phones, and have testimony as well as video footage as evidence against the four policemen.
Among government employees, policemen are a lucky lot. Former President Rodrigo Duterte appreciated their work and sacrifices, especially in his war against drugs, that increased their salaries and allowances, aside from other benefits. But still, more and more PNP personnel, using even the organization’s firearms and vehicles, cross the line and join criminals while benefiting from the government’s payroll. The level of greed and corruption in the police force is amazingly insatiable.
Both Pasay City police chief Col. Samuel Pabonita and NCRPO chief Nartatez are aware they have just scratched the surface of this syndicate with the arrest of the four. The PNP is now investigating whether the four are involved in other kidnapping incidents, harassment, intimidation, torture, and the like. They said 10 more suspects who are all civilians are still at large and probably just cooling their heels and will strike again if they see the opportunity. Of course, their illegal operation will have to involve other unscrupulous cops.
“This could be a syndicate because they are all working together. We are looking for the mastermind, who is reportedly not a cop and is still at large,” said PNP chief Marbil. He exhorted the bigger group of clean and honest policemen not to fall prey to criminality for this will mean long imprisonment and broken families and careers, if not the loss of lives.
This kidnapping case is by far the most serious among the recently reported misbehaviors of policemen. A member of the PNP Highway Patrol Group and a former member of the Armed Forces were arrested earlier for providing unauthorized motorcycle escorts to private vehicles in Parañaque City. Two members of the PNP Special Action Force were also arrested after getting into a fistfight in a village in Muntinlupa and were discovered to be serving as bodyguards for a Chinese national.
General Marbil has a lot of work to do here.
