PNP News Releases 2008

SAF "DISOWNS" POLICE MAJOR IN KIDNAP-MURDER

The elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police has "disowned" one of their fellow police commandos who figured in the kidnap-murder of two persons in Cavite.

SAF authorities have stripped Chief Inspector Exequiel Cautiver of the "authority to wear the Black Beret, SAF badge, and Commando tab", the distinctive headgear and insignia of the SAF, the national maneuver force of the PNP.

"Cautiver violated the SAF tradition of discipline and proper conduct. He does not deserve to wear the SAF beret and badge anymore," SAF Director, Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago Jr. said.

According to Santiago, a SAF trooper who is stripped of authority to wear the SAF badge and beret is like a lawyer disbarred or a priest defrocked.

All SAF troopers are issued General Orders by the SAF Headquarters before they are allowed to wear the black beret, SAF badge and Commando tab.

This developed as Santiago ordered Summary Dismissal Proceedings against Cautiver and SAF Trainee PO1 Reniel Abogado, his co-accused in the Cañete-Garay kidnap-murder.

Cautiver, erstwhile officer-in-charge of the SAF Training Battalion was arrested on July 4 for involvement in the kidnapping and murder of retired pilot Demosthenes Cañete and driver Allan Garay. Abogado eluded arrest and remains at-large.

The Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) filed a case for kidnapping-for-ransom against Cautiver, Abogado, ex-Vice Mayor Victor Carungcong, Alejandrito Entolizo Jr., Gary Pateo, and Mariano de Leon alias Spider.

The charge was later amended to the complex crime of kidnapping for ransom with murder after the bodies of the two victims were found.