‘Doce Pares’ gang leader selling Pasig property

Apparently to evade the seizure of his ill-gotten wealth, PO2 Joel Tapec, the alleged leader of the dreaded "Doce Pares" gang composed of policemen on active duty, is selling his three-story house in Pasig City.

Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), said they received information that the caretaker of the house located in Barangay Palatiw is offering the property for sale for P750,000. "He (Tapec) knows that we are conducting a lifestyle check on him and would most likely seize his ill-gotten assets so he’s trying to put one over us by selling the house," said Valenzuela, adding that they’ll try their best to block the sale of the property.

Valenzuela said they also received reports that Tapec’s live-in partner has moved out and transferred to an undisclosed address.

But the policeman’s relatives are reportedly still staying in a newly constructed four-door, three-story apartment in nearby Barangay Palatiw.

This property is reportedly not yet being offered for sale.

The EPD director declared Tapec absent without official leave (AWOL) last week, which automatically meant suspension of his salary and other benefits.

Tapec, along with PO1s Candido Vallejo and Roel Palana, were charged with robbery with frustrated homicide for their role in the P300,000 payroll robbery of Fernando Siy, a candy factory executive last Aug. 26.

Tapec was out on a P280,000 bail when he, Palana, Vallejo and another cop, PO1 Roger Villarente, shot dead a one-year-old girl, Erica Charlene Guevarra, during a robbery attempt in Cainta, Rizal last Sept. 14.

A day later, Vallejo and other policemen members of the "Doce Pares" gang kidnapped Chinese engineer, Michael Chan, 44, in Proj. 4, Quezon City. Chan’s body was recovered two days later in Antipolo City.

Vallejo, Villarente and Palana were arrested by combined elements of the EPD, Cainta police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group —Rizal.

Tapec and the three other "Doce Pares" gang members are presently facing summary dismissal proceedings ordered by Director Vidal Querol, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Vallejo is presently under the custody of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) while Palana and Villarente are being held at the Cainta municipal jail.

Tapec has gone into hiding after witnesses positively identified him as one of the suspects in Guevarra’s slay.

Valenzuela said they received no surrender feelers from Tapec, who could be in hiding with his relatives in Cagayan Valley and Isabela.

"He was not sighted in Metro Manila nor in the Luzon provinces," said Valenzuela as he appealed for the public’s help in locating Tapec, whom he described as a "very dangerous" criminal.