Cop faces axe for kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered summary dismissal proceedings against an anti-narcotics police officer for kidnapping a Chinese man.

Pat. Josen Nino Ramos of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) faces “stacks of charges” following his arrest along with his alleged accomplices Conrad Hiro Liwanag, Ryan Joshua Turla and Oliver Asentista, all criminology graduates and Ramos’ batchmates, Eleazar said yesterday.

In a report, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said its personnel responded to a call for assistance from a security guard who said he saw “suspicious” people in a vehicle who introduced themselves as police officers after they were flagged for loitering along G. Araneta Avenue in Barangay Doña Imelda on Thursday night.

When police officers arrived at the scene to question the group, they reportedly introduced themselves as PDEG confidential informants.

“Suspicious of the group, Quezon City cops conducted a search of their vehicle and found a half-naked and handcuffed Chinese national with them,” the report read, adding that when brought to the precinct, Ramos said the Chinese man was someone they arrested during an anti-drug operation.

However, a check with the PDEG Special Operating Unit 4-A, to which Ramos belongs, revealed that no anti-illegal drug operation against any Chinese national had been coordinated with the Quezon City police or the PDEG unit.

The victim, Chen De Jia, 29, identified the four men as his kidnappers who have been paid P3.5 million in ransom for his release.

Police confiscated from Ramos and his accomplices two pistols, assorted magazines and ammunition, 131 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P959,004, bladed weapons, a motorcycle, a sedan, two improvised license plates and smartphones.

“Like what we promised, we will not hesitate to sack criminal-minded cops, however numerous they are, just to make sure that our ranks are clean. And we already have programs in our recruitment program where we have removed the power of favors to ensure that only the best and qualified applicants would become cops,” Eleazar said.

The suspects are being held at the QCPD on charges that include kidnapping and possession of illegal drugs.