By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – A Grab delivery rider who escaped an alleged abduction in Sampaloc, Manila on Friday filed an administrative complaint against seven police officers of the Manila Police District (MPD).
At a press briefing at the National Police Commission main office in Quezon City, Napolcom Vice Chair and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Chester Dumaran, 27, filed his complaint with the commission’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) against a police major, two master sergeants, two staff sergeants, one corporal, and one patrolman, for grave misconduct, grave irregularities in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
According to Dumaran, he and a companion, a Foodpanda rider, were accosted by the plainclothes suspects while having a break along Santisima Trinidad Street in Barangay Balic-Balic on Sept. 9.
Dumaran said the officers drove him and his companion around Rizal province for hours while threatening to kill them if they did not cooperate.
He said he escaped at about midnight when the group stopped to eat along Maceda Street corner Laong Laan.
His companion, he added, was taken to the MPD headquarters and charged with drug-related offenses.
Dumaran alleged that the officers took his cellphone, necklace, and PHP9,000 from his GCash account, savings he said he had been setting aside for his children.
“This is the first time I’m hearing about a case like this, and I am very, very bothered. We will not tolerate this if what Chester is saying is true. We will get to the bottom of this, and we will never allow any abuses of our policemen against the public,” Calinisan said.
He said IMIS investigators had already begun looking into the incident, and he had formally communicated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure Dumaran’s safety.
“We will make sure that he is protected. Whatever Chester needs, we will try to provide. His decision to come forward is a step toward ensuring his own safety,” he added.
Calinisan assured the public that due process would be observed in the case. He also reminded police officers to follow proper arrest procedures, including informing suspects of their rights and the reason for their arrest, as required by the PNP manual and the Constitution. (PNA)
