4 Malabon cops arrested for kidnapping, robbery-extortion charged before DOJ

The four Malabon City policemen arrested for alleged kidnapping and a P2-million extortion attempt were charged Tuesday before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Senior Police Officer 2 Ricky Pelicano, Police Officer 2 Wilson Sanchez, PO1 Joselito Ereneo, and PO1 Frances Camua underwent inquest proceedings for the criminal charges for kidnapping, robbery, carnapping, and planting of dangerous drugs.

Also facing the same charges are seven other policemen who remain at large. 

They are SPO2 Gerry Dela Torre, PO3 Michael Angelo Diaz Solomon, PO3 Luis Tayo Hizon Jr, PO2 Michael Papa Huerto, PO1 Jovito Roque Jr, PO1 Ricky Alix Lamcen, and PO3 Bernandino Pacoma.

4 Malabon cops arrested for alleged kidnapping and P2M extortion attempt were charged before the DOJ. | @virgillopez pic.twitter.com/jlMHNFcFlM

— GMA News Breaking (@gmanewsbreaking) May 23, 2017

During the inquest proceedings conducted by Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Azarcon, the Malabon cops requested for a full-blown preliminary investigation which is slated for May 29. 

The arrest on Monday came after the Philippine National Police's Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) received a complaint from the family of Norma De Guzman Adrales who was allegedly abducted on May 20 by the police officers from her Quezon City home after she visited her boyfriend at the medium security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

The masked men also took the victim's vehicle and other personal belongings including jewelry, cellphone, laptop and P6,000 cash.

The CITF said that the policemen demanded a kilogram of shabu and P2 million, which was later lowered to P1 million, for her release.

The camp of Malabon cops denied the charges, saying Adrales, a businesswoman, was arrested for possession of half a kilo of shabu.

"Ang balita namin na-release din when in fact it shouldn't be the case kasi nahuli din siya sa drugs so hindi namin alam kung bakit nasa labas siya ngayon," lawyer Raymond Palad told reporters, adding Sanchez was about to file the charges against Norma when he was arrested.

The lawyer also claimed that no kidnapping and entrapment operation took place.

"When you say entrapment, ito yung nagkakabayaran ng pera, inaabot ang pera. Yung victim hindi na-rescue nakakulong yun sa Malabon City police precinct," Palad said.

The suspects, who belong to the Malabon City Police's Drug Enforcement Unit, were already relieved and detained at the CITF headquarters in Camp Crame. — RSJ, GMA News