WANTED. Former police officer Ruben Baliong arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Abu Dhabi on Monday (March 8, 2021). Baliong has pending warrants of arrest for murder and physical injuries. (Photo courtesy of PNP-IMEG)
MANILA – A former police officer wanted for two counts of murder and physical injuries was arrested in Abu Dhabi last Feb. 3, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said Monday.
PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group chief, Col. Thomas Frias Jr., identified the arrested suspect as ex-Police Officer 3 Ruben Baliong, who is set to arrive Monday at 2 p.m.
Baliong, who was arrested in a sting operation in Abu Dhabi, has pending warrants of arrest for murder issued by the Caloocan Regional Court and another by a Parañaque court, also for murder and physical injuries.
He was formerly assigned at the Mandaluyong Police Station 3 and has been tagged as involved in illegal drugs and identified as a “contract killer”.
Police verified Baliong's travel records with the Bureau of Immigration last Nov. 5, 2020.
Frias said Baliong flew to Abu Dhabi on Jan. 4, 2019 to work as a security officer at Star Security Services.
Police coordinated with the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, Interpol National Central Bureau for the arrest of the suspect.
“With the effort of my team, the intelligence buildup led to the development of the specific information on the whereabouts of the suspect," Frias said.
“The subject was arrested by the Abu Dhabi Police and turned over to our custody on February 3, 2021," he added.
Baliong was turned over to IMEG operatives at the Abu Dhabi International Airport last March 6. (PNA)
