A police officer assigned to the Manila Police District Forensic Unit and seven alleged accomplices were arrested for reportedly kidnapping a courier and taking his vehicle, the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service said on Monday.
The incident reportedly occurred early Friday, January 30, when the courier, identified only as Crisanto, accepted a delivery request through a service app. He said he was directed to a dark area in Tondo, where suspects—some claiming to be police officers—took control of his truck.
The suspects allegedly included the officer, his brother, and several others, with three of the arrested individuals identified as minors under the law on children in conflict with the law. The adults among the suspects are all male, according to police records.
Authorities said around 20 people were involved in the operation. They reportedly removed copper wires from a manhole in Imus, Cavite, transferring them to a vehicle driven by the implicated officer before the courier regained control of his truck.
IAS Inspector-General Brigido Dulay said the suspects now face both criminal and administrative cases, including kidnapping, carnapping, theft, and grave coercion. A pre-charge investigation has begun following a complaint filed by the victim.
Police are still investigating the connections among the arrested suspects and tracking the other individuals involved, as well as the items taken from the manhole.
The officer and his seven alleged accomplices were apprehended in Manila during follow-up operations on Friday morning, highlighting ongoing police efforts to investigate the case.