11 cops face raps over ‘drug bust’

MANILA, Philippines — Murder and kidnapping complaints have been filed against 11 personnel of the intelligence and drug enforcement unit of the San Jose del Monte City police in Bulacan for allegedly detaining six men and killing two of them in what the law enforcers claimed to be an anti-drug operation.

The National Bureau of Investigation-Death Investigation Division (NBI-DID) filed the complaints before the Department of Justice against intelligence unit chief Maj. Leo dela Rosa; S/Sgts. Benjie Enconado, Jayson Legaspi, Irwin Joy Yuson and Edmund Catubay Jr.; Cpls. Jay Marc Leoncio, Herbert Hernandez, Raymond Bayan and Paul Malgapo, and Pat. Erwin Sabido and Rusco Madla.

The NBI-DID said the respondents were tagged in the killing of Erwin Mergal and Jim Joshua Cordero.

Probers said the police officers took the two men along with Edmar Asprin, Richard Salgado, Chamberlain Domingo and Chadwin Santos from Barangay Sto. Cristo on Feb. 13.

The victims were reportedly brought to the San Jose del Monte police office, where they were blindfolded and hogtied.

A police report said Mergal and Cordero were killed in a drug bust in Barangay Gaya-Gaya shortly after midnight on Feb. 18.

Police said sachets of shabu and guns were recovered from the suspects.

The NBI said the complaints were filed on behalf of the widow of Mergal and the mother of Cordero.