Malabon police chief relieved

Senior Supt John Chua was relieved as chief of Malabon Police Tuesday to ensure an impartial investigation on the involvement of his men in alleged kidnapping and robbery extortion.

Chua’s relief came following the arrest Monday of four Malabon Police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) members for abducting and extorting money from the partner of a convicted carjacker. They were identified as SPO2 Ricky Pelicano, PO2 Wilson Sanchez, PO1 Joselito Ereneo, and PO1 Frances Camua.

Seven other cops – PO3s Luis Hizon Jr., Jovito Roque and Michael Angelo Solomon; PO2 Michael Huerto; and PO1 Ricky Lamsen, all of the Malabon City Police DEU; and SPO2 Jerry dela Torre of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG); and PO3 Bernardo Pacoma of the Civil Security Group (CSG) – are now being hunted.

Chua said that his “administrative relief” was fine with him, adding that such was ordered by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to give a balanced probe.

“We want to be transparent to the public. The NCRPO did the right thing. I will follow the orders,” Chua said.

The NCRPO appointed Supt. Ferdinand Balgoa as officer in chief of Malabon Police. He was the former Assistant Chief of Police for Administration (ACOPA) of the city police.

The Northern Police Disctrict (NPD) said they received the order for the relief of Chua Tuesday night.

According to Chua, the seven other cops involved in the kidnapping and extortion have already abandoned their houses.

“The seven suspects abandoned their houses. All their houses are already closed. They also deactivated their social media accounts,”Chua said.