BY MINKA TIANGCO
A police officer who allegedly accepted bribes to free a detainee was arrested at Meisic Police Station in Binondo, Manila.
Police identified the suspect as Staff Sergeant Warren Castillo, 44, assigned at Meisic Police Station, and resident of Tondo, Manila.
According to a belated police report, Cpl. David Nagnot, the night shift duty jailer, received a text message from Castillo instructing him to prepare a certain detainee at around 4:32 a.m. on September 24.
In his text, Castillo said he was going to bring Dexter Barrera to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig and bring him back to Meisic Police Station in the afternoon.
Barrera has been detained at the said police station since June 13, 2020 for the crime of abduction in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
After a few hours, Nagnot contacted Castillo who informed that the detainee managed to escape.
The jailer then told the authorities about what happened.
Castillo was arrested at about 2 p.m. on September 25 after returning to Meisic Police Station without Barrera.
A manhunt operation is now underway for the detainee’s arrest. (Minka Tiangco)
