MANILA, Philippines — There are now 12 police suspects tagged in the EDSA holdup and kidnapping case which had been caught on camera. The photo taken by a witness had gone viral over the internet and was a key material in identifying the police suspects.
Ten of the police suspects have already been identified, while two other suspects have yet to be named.
Two of the suspects – Chief Inspector Joseph De Vera and PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez – have already been arrested.
De Vera was linked to the crime after a Toyota Hi-Ace van used in the kidnapping turned out to be his. The Hi-Ace van had a conduction sticker YF 9767.
Former Insp. Marco Polo Estrera, a dismissed police officer, was traced as the owner of the Honda Civic car seen in the photo.
Eastern Police District Director Chief Supt. Eduardo Villacorta identified the additional police suspect as Police Senior Inspector Allan Empano from the Northern Police District. Empano has been on AWOL since 2013.
Empano was tagged by PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez who was earlier arrested for the Edsa hold-up case.
Villacorta said De Vera and his men abducted the victims after allegedly being tipped off that they were carrying P2 million in cash.
De Vera tagged Estrera, Senior Inspector Oliver Villanueva, PO2 Mark de Paz, PO2 Ebonn Decatoria, PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez, SPO1 Ramil Hachero, PO2 Jerome Datinguinoo, and PO2 Weavin Masa as his cohorts.
Quezon City Police District chief Richard Albano said the rest of the police suspects have gone AWOL.
Police Senior Supt. Tyrone Masigon, Mandaluyong City Police Chief, said it had been difficult for them to trace the suspects in their follow-up operations because the suspects are cops themselves and knew how to evade being traced.
Because of this, extra effort is needed to locate the cop suspects.