5 Oro cops: kidnappers?

FIVE policemen, including a unit chief of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), have been ordered relieved from their respective posts after they were accused of involvement in an alleged kidnapping incident.

City police director Senior Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga identified the policemen as Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez, chief of the Crime Against Person and Property Desk (CAPPD), and his subordinates Police officer 3 Alejandro Ubanan, Senior Police Officer 2 Jojo Lim, Senior Police Officer 1 Alaindelon Tacubao, and Police Officer 2 Hussein Bolanio.

"Gi-relieve sila and didto na sila ipareport sa Camp Alagar kay naay allegations nga involved sila sa kidnapping (They were relieved and were ordered to report in Camp Alagar because there was an allegation that they were involved in a kidnapping incident)," Cariaga said.

The order came from Northern Mindanao Police regional director Chief Superintendent Noel Constantino and took effect last Thursday, November 10.

Cariaga has yet to disclose the details of the kidnapping incident apart from saying that the victim is a certain Enrique Fernandez III, who remains missing until now.

The five policemen were implicated after being identified by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) through footages from an establishment's closed circuit television camera.

Cariaga said the NBI is handling the case to maintain impartiality and to avoid perceptions of a "whitewash" or "cover-up."

"Sakto ra pud nga NBI ang naglihok sa kaso para maiwasan ang gamay nga whitewash or unsa ba kaha nga cover up kung police ang mag investigate (It’s right thing that NBI is working on the case to avoid whitewash or what so ever cover up if the police will do the investigation)," Cariaga said.

Cariaga said he has temporarily deactivated the CAPPD and will reorganize the unit in a later date.