Ramirez, 4 other cops in kidnapping case face administrative charges

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

CAMP Alagar is getting ready to start administrative proceedings against Senior Insp. Ereneo Ramirez and four of his subordinates who were arrested and charged in connection with the Oct. 23 abduction of former overseas worker Enrique “Eking” Fernandez III.

Supt. Surki   Sereñas, Camp Alagar spokesman, said the Regional Personnel, Human Resource and Doctrine Development Division of the regional police office would handle administrative proceedings against Ramirez, SPO2 Jojo Lim, SPO1 AlaindelonTacubao, PO3 Alejandro Ubanan and PO2 Sangkula Hussein.

The suspects are facing dismissal from the police service.

“Criminal offenses (will have corresponding) administrative sanctions. The  indicted police officers in relation to the alleged  kidnapping will also face administrative cases,” Sereñas said. “Ang RPHRDDD, automatic na sila nga magpadala ug summon ngadto sa mga accused policemen aron ilang tubagon ang ilang administrative cases.”

Meanwhile, acting city prosecutor Merlyn Uy  said two eyewitnesses have come forward and identified Ramirez, chief of the just-deactivated Persons and Property Desk of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), and his four subordinates as the men who seized Fernandez.

Uy said the two witnesses were Fernandez’s friend and the kidnapping took place near where they were.

She said the witnesses’ accounts further strengthened the kidnapping case that was filed in court against the suspects on Thursday.

“We have a video footage, and witnesses who identified the policemen,” Uy said.

She said the witnesses may likely be placed in the Department of Justice’s witness protection program.