Eleazar: Fire 5 cops in Ecija kidnap-slay

By John Roson

STA. ROSA, Nueva Ecija -- National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered immediate dismissal from the service of five policemen accused of involvement in the kidnapping and brutal killing of a female online seller here.
    Eleazar directed the Internal Affairs Service to immediately initiate summary dismissal proceedings against the five, earlier identified as SSgt. Benedict Reyes, assigned at the police station in Sta. Rosa town; SSgt. June Malillin, of the Palayan City Police; SSgt. Drextemir Esmundo, of the Cabiao Police; MSgt. Rowen Martin, of the Cabanatuan City Police; and Cpl. Julius Alcantara, of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit.
    “Mariin nating kinokondena ang pangyayaring ito. Sinisiguro ko sa inyong masisibak sa serbisyo at pananagutin natin sa batas ang lahat ng pulis na sangkot. Ang mga ganitong utak-kriminal at sagad sa buto ang kasamaan ay nababagay mabulok sa kulungan,” Eleazar said in a statement.
    Eleazar was referring to the kidnapping and killing of Nadia Casar, 35, an online seller from Cavite who ventured to Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, on July 20.
    A Grab driver whom Casar hired for the trip was also abducted, but released on July 21.
    Casar’s charred remains were later found buried at a farm in Palayan City Aug. 1.

Aside from the five lawmen, civilians Franklin Macapagal and Dario Robarios were also implicated in the incident.

Reyes, Malillin, Alcantara, and Robarios are in police custody while Martin, Esmundo, and Macapagal remain at-large.

All suspects have been charged before the Dept. of Justice.

Eleazar tasked the Anti-Kidnapping Group and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group to conduct manhunt operations against the suspects who remain at large.

The PNP chief extended sympathies to Casar’s family and vowed swift justice for her.

“Ipinapangako ko sa pamilya ng biktima na bibigyan natin ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Nadia. Ako mismo ang tututok sa kasong ito at sisiguraduhin ko na haharapin ng mga bugok na pulis na ito ang kaso laban sa kanila sa korte at pananagutan ang kanilang ginawang krimen,” he said.

The charred body of Casar allegedly kidnapped by the police officers was recovered in Palayan City on August 1.

The body of Casar was stuffed in a sack that was dug in Sitio Pinagpala in Palayan City.

Police said Casar was kidnapped at around 4 p.m. on July 23.

One of the alleged kidnapers, later identified as S/Sgt. Mallillin of the Palayan City police, pointed to investigators the location of the victim’s remains.

A witness told probers that the suspects ordered him to bury the victim. – With a report from Neil Jayson Cervallos