A LOOKOUT in the October 23 abduction of Enrique Fernandez III was arrested Friday evening, a police official said on Sunday, November 27.
Chief Superintendent Danilo Maligalig, Northern Mindanao Police Deputy Regional Director for Administration, identified the alleged accomplice of the five policemen-suspects as Thoper Medrano, also known as "Toping."
Medrano was arrested by the City Intelligence Unit of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) and operatives of Police Station 8 around 6:00 pm Friday, November 25, at the Rotunda, Paseo del Rio, Cagayan de Oro City.
Maligalig said Medrano was one of three lookouts in the alleged kidnapping of Fernandez by the group of Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez at the Uptown Condotel in Upper Balulang.
Aside from Ramirez, the others accused in the kidnapping are Police Officer 3 (PO3) Alejandro Ubanan, Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Jojo Lim, SPO1 Alaindelon Tacubao, and PO2 Sangkula Hussein.
Maligalig said the arrest of Medrano was based on the latter's existing arrest warrant for carnapping issued by Judge Gil Bollozos, Branch 21 of the Regional Trial Court.
"May report na kasama talaga siya sa lookout ng mga police kaya siya na manhunt. Siya (Medrano) ang John Doe sa kasong isinampa ng NBI. (There is a report that says he is one of the lookouts)," Maligalig said.
Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa, Northern Mindanao police deputy spokesperson, said a witness identified Medrano.
"Naay witness ang pamilya sa biktima nga nag-execute og affidavit nga apil ni siya. Gisiguro nila nga maaresto gayud kay kung kato lang sa kidnapping basin luya kaayo at least mas lig-on nga basihan kini. (A witness from the family of the victim executed an affidavit that says he is involved in the crime)," Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa said city police director Senior Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga has ordered his men to locate the other two civilian accomplices.
Hortillosa said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Northern Mindanao, which leads the investigation of Fernandez' kidnapping, will likely question Medrano on Monday, November 28.
"Ang mando sa city director nga tabangan gayud og pangita ug kinsa tong makasagap sa information regardless of the area of responsibility operationan gayud. (The mandate from the city director is to look for those who can provide more information)," Hortillosa said.
Lawyer Cesar Bacani, NBI-Northern Mindanao regional director, said they will coordinate with the police and would ask the witness to identify Medrano for allegedly having a hand in Fernandez' abduction.
Bacani also said no substantial development yet to the information coming to their office on the whereabouts of the victim.
Medrano, for his part, denied any involvement in the kidnapping of Fernandez.
He also denied that he worked as an asset of the Crime against Persons and Property Desk where the five policemen were previously detailed.
"Wala ko kabalo ana kay wala ko diha sa hitabo. Dili ko asset sa CAPPD ug wala ko kaila ana nila. (I was not at the crime scene during that time. I am not an asset of CAPPD and I don't know them)," Medrano said in a radio interview.
