Residents of Taguig City were urged to remain vigilant and cooperative with the city government in its fight against illegal activities, especially if the crime involves police scalawags and erring public officials.
The city government made the appeal following the arrest of three Taguig City policemen and the death of their fellow police officer allegedly involved in kidnap-for-ransom and extortion activities.
“The coordination among the citizens, the Philippine National Police, and local government unit proves, once again, that crime prevention and eradication depend on a collective community effort,” said Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano.
“It is with mixed feelings of frustration and elation that, with the vigilance of our citizens and the timely action of Taguig police in coordination with the PNP’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the kidnap-for-ransom activities of a group of law enforcers including some members assigned in Taguig City were busted,” she added.
Last Tuesday, three members of Taguig Police Community Precinct 1 —Police Officer 1 (PO1) Bryan Amir Bajoof, PO1 Paolo Ocampo and PO2 Joey Maru—were arrested during an entrapment and rescue operation along Tandem Street in Arca South, Western Bicutan.
The three policemen along with PO1 Gerrardo Ancheta, who was killed during the said operation, were allegedly members of Maru kidnap-for-ransom group led by PO2 Maru.
The authorities conducted the entrapment operation following a complaint of a kidnap and extortion victim identified as Ronielyn Caraecle.
Caraecle said after taking their money and valuables inside their house, the four policemen abducted her and her boyfriend, and told them that they will only be released in exchange for P50,000.
Caraecle’s relative was able to produce only P20,000. The abductors released her to get the remaining P30,000 while Samuel remained in their custody.
Fearing for her life, Caraecle went to the police and the entrapment was made resulting in the police encounter with the suspects, the killing of Ancheta and the rescue of Samuel in the area near the FTI construction site.
The police officers, now in jail, were charged with kidnapping and extortion before the city prosecutors office.
Mayor Cayetano said the city government does not condone any illegal activities in the city, whether by ordinary citizens or public officers. She also assured residents that it would always act on legitimate reports of criminal activities regardless of who the perpetrators are.
“The city does not coddle erring personnel, and the latest incident shows that it does not hesitate to strike hard on lawmen who betray their sworn duty of protecting the public from crimes.”
“Hand in hand with the PNP, the City of Taguig guarantees the safety and security of its residents through constant vigilance and monitoring including cleansing of the ranks of bad elements in the police force,” added Cayetano.
The city government reminded residents that they can call hotline 165-7777 to report cases of extortion by law enforcement officers.