Kidnapping raps filed vs. 11 NCR anti-drug cops, including ex-chief

The National Bureau of Investigation has lodged complaints against 11 police officers belonging to the National Capital Region Police Office's (NCRPO) anti-drugs unit, including their former chief, in connection with the alleged abduction of three men in April 2021.

According to Emil Sumangil's exclusive report on "24 Oras", the complaints were filed in connection with the alleged abduction in Cavite of brothers Gio Mateos, 23, and Mico Mateos, 21, and their friend Gary Matreo, 22.

They all went missing on April 13, 2021.

After a year of investigation, the NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs arrested and filed complaints against Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Orafa, the former head of the NCRPO's Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, as well as Police Lieutenant Jesus Menez, Police Staff Sergeant Roy Piquant, Police Staff Sergeant Robert Allan Raz, Police Corporal Alric Natividad, Police Corporal Troy Paragas, Police Corporal Ronald John Lanaria, Police Corporal Ronald Montibon, Police Corporal Reynaldo Seno, Police Corporal Russel Solomon, and Police Corporal Christal Rosita.

All 15 have been made respondents to complaints for:

• kidnapping
• serious illegal detention
• anti-enforcement of the Involuntary Disappearance Act
• grave misconduct
• conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service
• perjury
• serious dishonesty

According to the NBI, CCTV footage showed the missing individuals before they disappeared. Gio is seen waiting on the street then getting into a black car. Some minutes later and not far away, his brother Mico is seen on a motorcycle when a man grabs him and puts him in another black car. The brothers' friend Matreos is also taken at the point, said the NBI, but it is not shown in the video footage.

“Sila po ay biglang dinampot sa lugar namin doon. At hindi rin namin malaman, dapat hindi nila ginawa ng ganyan na hindi pati kami nagaalalang mga magulang,” the brothers' father Guillermo Mateos said.

PDEA report

The NBI conducted back-tracking and were able to locate the vehicles. They found that in the morning of that day, some hours before the abductions, the vehicles had parked at a restaurant in Tagaytay, where their passengers shared a meal.

From the CCTV footage in the restaurant, the NBI identified the vehicles' passengers as Menez, Solomon, Rosita, and Montibon of the NCRPO RDEU.

The NBI also identified four civilians with the police officers, including the driver of one of the cars; the man seen in the CCTV footage abducting Mico; and two brothers who had previously appeared at a Senate hearing as police assets, in connection with the disappearance of several sabungeros.

The NBI got a copy of the pre-operation and coordination report from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which indicated that they conducted a buy-bust operation against "Gio and cohorts" in Cavite on April 13, 2021.

“Ang nais ko lang po sana iparating, sila naman po ay may mga anak din, sa mga dumukot na 'yan, sa mga gumawa na 'yan sa batang 'yan. Kung sila po ay bagay na nagkamali sa ating batas ay dapat po binigyan ng magandang hustisya mga batang 'yan. 'Yan lang po ang gusto kong iparating para ang mga taong katulad ko ay magtiwala pa sa kanila,” Guillermo Mateos said.

The NBI subpoenaed the police officers and other civilians last week. However, they did not appear before the NBI.

“Sa mga pamilya po ito ang asahan ninyo sa PNP, kami po ay makikipagtulungan. Ang dapat makulong ay ipapakulong po natin; ang dapat managot ay papasagutin po natin,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said. —Richa Noriega/BM/NB, GMA News