By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA – Magsasaka party-list member Lejun dela Cruz was arrested in Pasig City on Sunday because of a murder case as the Philippine National Police (PNP) refuted allegations of abduction and assassination tries.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said officers arrested dela Cruz armed with an arrest warrant for murder issued by a Las Piñas court in 1992.

The police attempted to arrest the former commander of the Alex Boncayao Brigade, which is the urban assassination unit of the communist New People’s Army, but he attempted to escape. The chase ended in Pasig.

Dela Cruz’s camp said he was forced to flee after the police officers, who were not in proper uniform, tried to accost him and even fired shots at him.

Fajardo said it should be dela Cruz who needs to explain as his escape attempt damaged four vehicles and a motorcycle.

“Walang katotohanan na (There is no truth to the) assassination attempt against the life of Mr. dela Cruz. On the contrary siya pa po ang nanutok at siya pa ang nanagasa at ang pulis natin na sinasagaan, naka-confine. May fracture siya sa pelvis dahil siya ay binangga nung accused po (it was him who poked a gun at and bumped one of our police officers who is now confined. The officer has a fracture in the pelvis after he was bumped by the accused),” she said.

The police officers were in civilian clothing because it was a discreet operation, Fajardo said.

“Remember this is a service of warrant. If our personnel are in uniform, the operation can be botched. What’s important ay noong siya ay inaresto, nagpakilala ‘yung ating mga pulis at meron din mga backup na naka-uniporme ‘yan (is our police officers introduced themselves and they have officers in uniform as backup),” she added.

Dela Cruz is now under the custody of the Eastern Police District, specifically in a detention facility in Marikina City.

Fajardo said the service of the arrest warrant would have been hassle-free had dela Cruz cooperated with the arresting officers.

She said the PNP is filing additional charges against dela Cruz, including violation of the election gun ban, malicious mischief and illegal possession of firearms.

Vlogger cop faces rape case

In the same briefing, Fajardo said that Senior M/Sgt. Timothy Joseph Virtucio, a vlogger, was disarmed and put under restrictive custody at the Police Regional Office-Calabarzon headquarters in Calamba, Laguna, for a rape complaint in Batangas.

Fajardo said the victim’s husband and father filed a sworn affidavit against the police officer.

“The investigation into his administrative case is ongoing. With respect to the criminal case, we are waiting for the victim to be out of the ICU (intensive care unit). The Batangas police said they have yet to formally to talk to the victim, whose mental condition is unstable because of the trauma,” Fajardo said, without divulging further details.

A police officer in restrictive custody cannot leave the camp until the hearing of his or her case is over. (PNA)