THE Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed criminal charges against four members of the Laguna PNP Highway Patrol Group and three civilians accused of involvement in the abduction and slaying of a businessman and a car sales agent in Quezon province on December 30 last year.
Charged before the Tayabas City Prosecutor’s Office were Lt. Emerson Custodio, Police Chief Master Sergeant Lian Manalo, Staff Sgt. Carlito Jimeno and Cpl. Alfie Reyes and civilians Ranilex Mendoza alias “Abong Ramirez Mendoza,” William Bawalan Dagotdot Jr. ; and one Jane Doe.
The accused are facing charges for kidnapping and homicide, kidnapping with serious illegal detention, violation of Republic Act10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016,
Presidential Decree 1829 or obstruction of justice and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, according to PNP-CIDG director Maj. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz. The four are also facing administrative charges for grave misconduct. According to Cruz, the CIDG Quezon Provincial Field Unit filed the cases against the suspects following an investigation they conducted, with the support of the PNP Highway Patrol Group, and other local PNP units.
The investigation was launched after the body of 29-year-old businessman Rodrigo Dueña II was discovered in Sitio Dos, Bgy. Ibabang Bukal in Tayabas City around 7 a.m. last December 30.Dueña’s companion, 33-year- old car sales agent Jaime Faramil remains missing.The charges were filed after weeks of investigation.
Cruz said that that armed with a court order, CIDG investigators, assisted by the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4-A, and the Laguna Highway Patrol Team last February 4 searched the Laguna HPG Impounding Area near Mayapa Exit in Bgy. Paciano Rizal in Calamba City.
Following the incident, PNP-HPG director Brig. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered the administrative relief of all officers and men of the Laguna PHPT. He also immediately placed the accused HPG men under restrictive custody.
