OFFICER LINKED TO SALVAGE CASE

A witness has linked a ranking police officer to the case of four
Metro Manila policemen and a civilian caught dumping a corpse in
Calamba City, Laguna late last week.

A source at the National Bureau of Investigation said the testimony of
the witness, who went to NBI headquarters in the company of a spy of
one of NBI's investigating units to tell his story, has compelled the
bureau to step into the case.

The source said the witness, in his initial statement, tagged a
ranking Philippine National Police officer who allegedly ordered the
abduction and killing of victim Gilbert Garcia.

According to the witness, Garcia was a drug user involved in petty
crimes in Pasay City. "As of now, the motive is not yet clear." At
press time, NBI invited the family of Garcia to shed light on the case.

On Tuesday, the Crusaders for Good Governance of Pasay (CGGP) asked
NBI to investigate the case following reports that a ranking police
officer was involved.

"We were informed that aside from the four policemen ranking police
officer also took part in the abduction and killing of Garcia. This
official had a big role in the case, so, we want NBI to dig deeper
into this," said Rey Evangelista, CGGP spokesperson.

A statement from Malacanang condemned the killing and ordered a speedy
investigation.

The policemen are PO2 Marcelino Taduyo; PO1s Ramil Marquita and
Reynaldo Soronel of the Pasay City police community precinct 6; PO2
Cenon Carolino of the Makati City Guadalupe police community precinct;
and Carolino's brother Pablito, 35, a Pasay City hall official employee.

The Calamba police filed kidnapping with murder charges against the
five, now detained at Calamba jail. They refused to give any statements.

Seized from the suspects were two 9mm pistols, two .45-cal. pistols
and several bullets.

Evangelista quoted their informant as saying the Pasay policemen were
newly transferred to Pasay PCP-6, under the command of Chief Insp.
Julian Balan, who has kept mum on the case.

"There are so many questions we want answered. Why were a Makati
policeman and a Pasay city hall employee involved here, and why have
their superiors kept silent?" asked Evangelista.

Investigators said Calamba policemen were on their way to Barangay
Batino when they spotted a Mitsubishi L300 (XGL-397) parked
suspiciously along the dimly lit portion of Calamba Hills 2
Subdivision in Barangay Barandal at 12:05 a.m.

The policemen checked the van and found Garcia's body, his hands
cuffed behind him and a nylon card looped around his neck.

3 Cops in Extort

Meanwhile, antinarcotics policemen arrested three colleagues and two
civilians while they were extorting from the mother of a detained drug
suspect at Mandaluyong City police headquarters yesterday.

Arrested on the basis of a complaint from Alicia Lloreta were SPO3
Rodel Castalone; PO1s Jefferson Gonzales and Salvador del Mundo;
Danilo Soriano and an unidentified police spy. The policemen were
members of the local antidrug unit.

Lloreta said the five tried to extort P100,000 from her in exchange
for the safe release of her son Jericho, 33, who was arrested while
playing a card game in the city Tuesday afternoon.

Negotiations brought down the price to P20,000 and the downgrading of
charges from drug pushing to drug use.

Agents of the PNP antiillegal drugs special operation task force
arrested the suspects after Lloreta handed over the marked money to
Soriano.

A brief shootout preceded the arrest. No one was reported hurt.