By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has dismissed 11 police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU-NCRPO) over alleged kidnapping cases.
In a news release Friday, Napolcom said the officers were found administratively liable for two counts of grave misconduct and two counts of conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
The commission identified the 11 as Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Maj. Mark Phillip Almedilla, SMSgt. Mark Anthony Manrique, SSgt. Edmon Muñoz, SSgt. Robert Allan Raz Jr., SSgt. Denar Roda, Cpl. Alric Natividad, Cpl. Reynaldo Seno Jr., Cpl. Ronald John Lanaria, Patrolman Rufino Miguel Panghulan, and Patrolman Develyn Tapalla.
Orapa, Almedilla, Manrique, and Muñoz had earlier been linked to the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts) case and were charged and dismissed from service in January.
The 11 officers were accused of involvement in two abduction incidents on Feb. 17 and March 24, 2021, allegedly under the guise of anti-drug operations.
The case stemmed from complaints filed on Sept. 3, 2025.
“The respondents’ actions, carried out while they were in active service and acting under the color of authority, seriously dishonored the Philippine National Police (PNP) and demonstrated a corrupt and unworthy moral character incompatible with public service,” Napolcom said.
Given the gravity of the violations, Napolcom imposed the maximum penalty of dismissal, with accessory penalties.
Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan stressed that due process was observed in handling the cases.
“May due process tayo dito sa Napolcom. Hindi natin puwedeng paghaluin ang mga kaso. Kailangan nating tingnan nang hiwa-hiwalay, base sa ebidensya (We have due process here in Napolcom. We can’t mix the cases together. We have to look at them separately based on evidence),” he said. (PNA)
