10 NCR cops cleared in 2021 kidnap of drug suspects in Cavite

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared 10 former members of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit-National Capital Region Police Office (RDEU-NCRPO) who were accused of kidnapping four drug suspects in Cavite in 2021.

Those cleared of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and enforced disappearances were former chief of RDEU-NCRPO Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Orapa, Lieutenant Jesus Mene, Staff Sergeant Roy Pioquinto, Staff Sergeant Robert Allan Raz Jr., Staff Sergeant Denar Roda, Staff Sergeant Alfredo Andes, Corporal Alric Natividad, Corporal Ronald John Lanara, Corporal Reynaldo Seno Jr., Corporal Troy Paragas, Corporal Ronald Montibon, Corporal Ruscel DC Soloman, Corporal Christal Rhine Rosita and Corporal Jovelyn Tamagos.

Also cleared of charges were civilians Angelo Atienza, Nicasio Manio, and Nicholes Manio.

The respondents were charged with kidnapping four drug suspects on April 13, 2021.

The NCRPO anti-drug cops are back on duty at the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group, except Paragas who was dismissed from the service for an unrelated case.

The charges against the former RDEU-NCRPO members were filed by the National Bureau of Investigation-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID).

In dismissing the charges, DOJ Assistant Prosecutor Honey Rose Delgado, in a resolution, said the CCTV footage which the NBI-TFAID presented as proof that the police officers kidnapped the four drug personalities, "are not sufficiently and convincingly identified by persons who are capable of doing so".

Review of the CCTV footage, taken in a Tagaytay City coffee shop, revealed that none of the accused were vividly seen, thus making their identifications "difficult, if not impossible."

The DOJ resolution also dismissed the perjury charges filed against the police officers as there was insufficient proof to show that the respondents perjured themselves in a related Senate investigation regarding the matter.

With the DOJ resolution and subsequent filling of the NBI-TFAID, then-PNP chief Benjamin Acorda on Nov. 17, 2023 ordered the dismissal of administrative cases against the respondents along with 21 other RDEU-NCRPO officers for lack of substantial evidence.

Moreover, Orapa and the other officers involved were also absolved of their administrative cases for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, oppression and grave dishonesty.

"We just want to redeem our names as we and our families suffered as a result of the negative publicity triggered by the unfounded accusations against us," said Orapa. — VDV, GMA Integrated News