Even after they have denied stealing more than P10 million in ransom money for a kidnapped Malaysian trader, five Manila policemen still face a lie-detector test and possible arrest for at least three charges, on orders of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. Lim said on Wednesday that he ordered the lie-detector test for the five policemen to see if they were telling the truth about at some P10.6 million in missing ransom money. The five policemen were:
Senior Inspector Peter Nerviza; SPO4 Ernesto Peralta; PO3 Mike Ongpauco; PO3 Jefferson Britanico, and PO1 Rommel Ocampo. "Pina-subject ko sa lie-detector test sila, pati mga suspect. Maski papaano ang lie-detector test makakatulong sa investigation (I want them subjected to a lie-detector test, along with the suspected kidnappers. The lie-detector test can help us in our investigation)," he said in an interview on dzRH radio. He also said the five policemen may be arrested and charged with qualified theft, syndicated estafa, and obstruction of justice, depending on the outcome of the probe. A separate report by radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo said Lim vowed no whitewash in the investigation of the five. Shoot-to-kill order The five policemen surfaced Tuesday, a day after Lim issued a "shoot-to-kill" order against them. After meeting with Lim, the five vehemently denied accusations that they kept the money. However, Lim said the arrested suspects in the kidnapping claimed that the policemen took some of the ransom money. The mayor recounted the story of one of the suspects who said that when the luggage containing the ransom money was opened, the five policemen allegedly took some of the money. "Nung binuksan ang maleta kanya-kanya raw ang kuha eh. Yan ay in an interview of one of the suspects ... Malakas ang ebidensya rito eh," Lim had said in an earlier press conference in Manila Monday. (One of the arrested suspects said that when the suitcase containing the ransom was opened, the cops supposedly helped themselves to the cash. I believe the evidence against them is strong.) Lim also said their investigation showed that the victim, who was abducted on March 6, arranged for the withdrawal of P15 million for his ransom. The Manila policemen, however, reported recovering only P4.2 million. Lim said he initially intended to give the five policemen a spot promotion for the swift arrest of the kidnapping suspects. "That is a missed opportunity sa kagandahang loob ng Malaysian, gagantimpalaan sila. Kung ganoon nangyari maganda sana ang kalabasan, e nasilaw sa pera eh," he said. (It was a missed opportunity for us. The Malaysian victim had even wanted to give them a reward. Everything would have turned out well, except that some policemen apparently allowed themselves to be blinded by wealth.) – VVP, GMA News 
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