The first day of yuletide month will not be a lucky day for an ex-cop said the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) Director, PBGEN WARREN F DE LEON. De Leon bared the arrest of a retired policeman for 2 robbery cases and arbitrary detention.

In his statement, IMEG operatives of NCRFU Team Manila together with personnel of RID/RSOG, NCRPO and IMUS City Police Station, Cavite, joined forces in successfully serving the Warrants of Arrest against former PO2 Rafael E Espadero at his residence in Metroville Subdivision Imus City, Cavite and while in detention at the PNP-IMEG headquarters in Camp Crame.

The Warrants of Arrest were issued by Hon. Rosalia Hipolito-Bunagan, Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 232, Caloocan City for Robbery with bail recommended amounting to PhP60,000.00; Hon. Hector de Asis Buenaluz Jr., Presiding Judge, Fourth Judicial Region, Region 4A, Calamba City, Laguna, for Robbery (extortion) and by Hon. Lourdes Grace S Barrientos-Sasondoncillo, Presiding Judge, Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 86, Caloocan City for Arbitrary Detention with bail recommended amounting to PhP18,000.00.

As a backgrounder, during his assigment at Navotas Police Station in 2008 subject PNCO was involved in a Robbery incident against an OFW wherein they arrested the said victim and took his belongings.

Also, another warrant of arrest emanated during his stint at Northern Police District wherein his team was complained by a businessman for extortion. According to the reports, subject and his team arrested the said businessman in his house at Calamba, Laguna wherein he was planted with illegal drugs and brought to Police Station in Caloocan City where he was demanded to pay Php100,000.00 pesos for his release. However, details on arbitrary detention case was not revealed.

Further, accused was previously demoted from PO3 to PO2 in 2003 for failure to attend court hearings.

As of press time, the arrested accused is now at the custody of PNP-IMEG in Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, Quezon City, for proper documentation and disposition.

“Ito sana ay magsilbing babala sa mga kapulisan na nagbabalak gumawa ng mga bagay na labag sa batas at sa serbisyo na wag nang ituloy pa at kung may ginagawa man silang hindi kanais nais ay tumigil na dahil ang IMEG ay hindi natutulog upang sila ay tugisin. Sana sa pagdiriwang ng kapaskuhan ialay natin sa ating mga kababayan ang tunay na serbisyong nararapat para sa kanila at upang makasama na din natin ang ating mga mahal sa buhay sa pagdiriwang na ito.” PBGEN De Leon added.