Three policemen and a civilian were arrested and are now in the custody of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) for allegedly abducting and killing online jewelry seller Nadia Casar.
They were identified as PSSg. Benedict Reyes of Santa Rosa Municipal Police Station, PSSg. June Malillin of Palayan City Police Station and PCpl. Julius Alcantara of the Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PPDEU) of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office. Reyes was arrested on Thursday, while Malilin and Alcantara were arrested on Saturday.
The caretaker of the house where the victim Casar was taken was also arrested.
Based on the statement of Grab driver “Mark,” the victim allegedly delivered something on July 20 to a man in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
They also left immediately after the transaction, but they were stopped by five armed men aboard a pick-up and two motorcycles while traveling.
Armed men then alighted and kidnapped Casar and the Grab driver and were taken to a safehouse in Palayan City.
The Grab driver told the police that he overheard one of the suspects ordering the victim to ask her family for a huge amount of money in exchange for her release.
5 cops suspects in kidnap-slay case; online seller victim burned
The driver was later released the following day while the victim’s relatives sought the assistance of the AKG.
He then reported the incident to the Sta. Rosa Municipal Police Station in Nueva Ecija, where he saw the group of police officers involved in the crime.
“He immediately informed our operatives that he saw one of the suspects at the group picture of policemen. That policeman was later identified as Police Staff Sgt. Benedict Reyes,” said Brig. Gen. Rudolph Dimas, director of the police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group.
Meanwhile, the arrested caretaker Dario Aligan Robarios told the authorities Malilin, Martin and Esmudo ordered him to place the cadaver of the online seller inside a sack and bury it nearby.
Authorities later found the remains of the burned victim at Sitio Pinagpala, Brgy. Imelda Valley, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.
Other suspects, Police Master Sgt Rowen Martin and Police Staff Sgt Drextemir Esmundo, remain at large.
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