A man who poses as a native medicine man (albularyo) to hide his secret abortion services was arrested by police in an operation in Rodriguez, Rizal, early Sunday morning.
Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, newly-installed regional director of the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A), identified the arrested suspect as Randy Picardal alias Tata, legal age, of Sitio Hamuyuan, Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal.
Initial investigation disclosed that elements of Rodriguez Municipal Police Station led by Superintendent Pablito Naganag served a search warrant against Picardal inside his house around 6 a.m.
Eleazar said police had been conducting an intelligence operation against Picardal due to reports from tipsters about his alleged secret abortion activities.
“Sabi ng mga kapitbahay, palagi raw may mga pumupunta na mga babae, mga estudyante at mga naka-SUV pa. Ang front niya albularyo [quack doctor] siya (According to his neighbors, women have been frequenting his house, some are students and have cars. His front act is being a quack doctor),” Eleazar said.
Operating officers seized from Picardal a caliber .38 revolver loaded with six bullets, a home-made sumpak (improvised gun), various ammunitions, and two sacks of used and bloodied adult diapers, Eleazar said.
Police also found “Makabuhay” vines, which are allegedly used for aborting babies, planted in the backyard of his house and a seven-month-old fetus stuffed in a plastic container, Eleazar added.
Picardal was brought to Rodriguez Municipal Police Station detention facility.
Eleazar said appropriate charges will be filed against Picardal, including violation of Republic Act 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition Act and possibly, abortion-related cases under the Revised Penal Code.
