PNP uncovers modus of group of kidnapping cops

By Aaron Recuenco

For a group of rookie errant cops, the anti-illegal drugs campaign is indeed a lucrative money-making ‘business’.

The police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) has come across with a group of rookie cops with the modus of kidnapping illegal drugs personalities whose cases are dismissed and would demand ransom from their relatives.

PNP CHIEF DIR GEN. Oscar Albayalde (Mark Balmores)

Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the policemen composing the group are classmates in the police training during their recruitment in 2010.

He said the AKG had unmasked the illegal activities of the group led by Police Officer 1 Michael Omiping Siervo after it solved the kidnapping complaint involving victim Bonifacia Pascual Arcita who was abducted in Barangay Pansol in Calamba City in Laguna on July 31.

Shortly after the abduction, the victim’s daughter was contacted and asked to ransom her mother with P300,000 which was later reduced to P120,000.

The victim’s daughter made the initial payment of P20,000 through money remittance but was threatened that her mother would be killed if she fails to pay the remaining P100,000. The victim was released in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna on August 1.

It was during the backtracking of the locations based on the testimony of the kidnap victim that the AKG operatives were able to locate the safe house in Purok 4, Barangay Tranca in Bay town of Laguna.

The safehouse turned out to be owned by Siervo and his wife Margie, according to Chief Supt. Glenn Dumlao, AKG director.

“When the picture of PO1 Siervo was shown to the victim, she positively identified him as the leader of the group that kidnapped her,” said Dumlao.

Albayalde said Siervo and his wife remain at large along with two other cops identified as PO1 Jonathan Galang and PO2 Renald Carandang.

“What is significant here is we were able to solve this cases fast and swift. What is very frustrating here is that there are police involved and were are still looking for several others who are possibly involved in this kidnapping activities,” said Albayalde.

Dumlao said that Siervo is the mastermind of the group.

ALbayalde, for his part, said Siervo already sent surrender feelers while Carandang was monitored to have fled to Singapore after the operation. He is now monitored to have flown to Thailand.

According to Dumlao, there was a fourth member of the group identified as PO2 Gerald Acio who was allegedly kidnapped by the suspect and was later killed over suspicion of double cross and that he would squeal their names to the police.

He said the modus operand of the group is to kidnap those were arrested but whose cases were dropped by the Prosecutors or dismissed by the court.

In the case of the kidnap victim, she was implicated in the drug case after the apartment she rented was used as a shabu laboratory several years ago.