2 COPS ARRESTED INSIDE CRAME

Two Manila police officers, including a senior inspector, were
arrested inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at
Camp Crame for their alleged role in a P1.7-million kidnap-extort of a
Chinese Filipino trader in Las Pinas and Manila last weekend.

PNP chief Director Hermogenes Edbane Jr. ordered the filing of summary
dismissal charges against the police scalawags identified as Senior
Inspector Wilfredo Abordo and PO1 Sieroma Prudente, both assigned with
the anti-drug team of the Western Police District Station 8.

"This is a result of the combined effort of the Anti-Illegal Drugs
Task Force. These two are supposed to be officers and gentlemen, but
they crossed the line," Edbane said.

Now donning orange T-shirts intended for criminals, Abordo and
Prudente were presented to media during a press conference yesterday
at the PNP conference room.

"We will look into other incidents possibly involving these police
officers," Edbane said.

Abordo and Prudente were arrested by combined operatives of the PNP
Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force and the Police Anti-Crime Emergency
Response shortly after the two attended an anti-drug conference at the
AIDSOTF main office at Camp Crame.

The PNP has placed under intensive monitoring possible cohorts of the
duo also assigned at WPD Station 8, investigators said.

During the press conference, Edbane also ordered the relief of WPD
station 8 commander Superintendent Efren Perez, citing command
responsibility.

"As of now, he will be relieved," Edbane said.

The PNP chief also ordered WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro
Bulaong to scout for the replacement of Perez.

Abordo is a member of PNP Academy Class of 1998.

Police investigators alleged that Abordo and Prudente had been
involved in a string of illegal police operations in Las Pinas
starting June 5. They first picked up a certain Amado Manansala at
around 2 p.m. near at the SM South Mall in Las Pinas in a bid to
locate Filipino Chinese trader Benito Chua, whose brother was
reportedly tagged in illegal drug activities in the past.

During questioning, the suspects pressured Manansala into giving
information on the whereabouts of Chua. Manansala eventually informed
them of Chua's routine and the plate number of his Toyota Revo which
later became the WPD policemen's subject of operations that day.

Manansala was allowed to go in the so-called "palit-ulo" operation,
which is police parlance for tipping information against suspected
criminals in exchange of saving one's neck.

Abordo's group then pounced on a certain Akok and took his Toyota
Corolla Altis (XJW-719). The operatives mistook Akok for Chua.

Chua was eventually abducted by the group in Las Pinas last Sunday and
later taken aboard his blue Toyota Revo (WPW-208) to the vicinity of
WPD Station 8, where negotiations for "ransom" took place.

Police investigators told The STAR that Abordo's group demanded P50
million in ransom from Chua's wife, Betina. The amount was reduced to
P2 million, but the family was only able to raise P1.7 million.

Chua sought police assistance after he was released by his captors
last Sunday. He was freed after payment of P1.7 million was made.

Investigators received a breakthrough when they traced the suspects'
call to Abordo and Prudente. The duo called Chua to provide them with
the certificate of registration of the Toyota Revo, which the erring
cops also took as part of the ransom payment.

During confrontation, Abordo admitted that his team arrested three men
for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, but the case did
not prosper for lack of evidence.

He also admitted receiving the P1.7 million paid by the Chua 's
wife.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Ricardo
de Leon warned his commanders anew in Metro Manila against involvement
in the railroading drug cases and other criminal activities.