Eight police officers arrested over robbery incident in Pampanga

[ASEAN NOW News]

 

ARRESTED. Eight members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were presented to the media following their arrest over a robbery incident victimizing seven Chinese nationals and a Filipina in Angeles, Pampanga early Wednesday morning (Jan. 26, 2022). PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said he will make sure the police officers involved will be “pruned, removed from the organization.” (Photo courtesy of CIDG)

 

MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said it is set to file charges against the eight police officers who were arrested on Wednesday over a robbery incident victimizing seven Chinese nationals and a Filipina in Angeles City, Pampanga.

 

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro identified the suspects as Maj. Ferdinand Mendoza, Staff Sergeants Mark Anthony Reyes Iral and Sanny Ric Alicante; Corporals Richmond Francia, John Gervic Fajardo, and Kenneth Rheiner Ferrer Delfin; and Patrolmen Leonardo Veloso Mangales and Hermogines Rosario Jr., all assigned with the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU).

 

He said the suspects will be facing a case of robbery in band, extortion, and illegal detention, on top of the administrative charges being readied against them.

 

Ferro said the CIDG will not condone the wrongdoing of its personnel, adding the police officer’s involvement in such crime is an “isolated case.”

 

“(The CIDG) will not tolerate misdeeds of its uniformed personnel. This is a semblance of what we call ICU -- inept, corrupt, and undisciplined police personnel. We cannot allow this incident to tarnish the reliable performance, credibility established by the CIDG,” Ferro said in a press conference late Wednesday afternoon at Camp Crame.

 

In a report reaching Camp Crame, the CIDG regional field unit (RFU) three conducted an operation after receiving a report around 1 a.m. Wednesday about an ongoing robbery in a residential area at Diamond Subdivision in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, perpetrated by a group of armed men in civilian clothes who identified themselves as CIDG personnel.

 

Upon the arrival of the responding police officers in the area, they cornered the suspects who claimed they were conducting a buy-bust operation.

 

“In the course of investigation, it was later learned that the suspects held the seven male Chinese nationals and one Filipino house servant inside the said house. It was also observed that all the things inside the said premise are in disarray. Twelve computers that are set up similar to POGO operation was noticed at the living room,” the RFU report read.

 

“The team leader claimed that they are conducting buy-bust operation of firearms in the said place. However, it was later found to be untrue. When their vehicles were checked, assorted belongings of the Chinese were found therein including cash money amounting to PHP300,000 and US dollar bills,” it added.

 

The twelve computers were found set up, like those in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, inside the house.

 

“During the inquiry with the suspects, it was later learned that they were members of the PNP CIDG assigned at the AOCU,” it said.

 

Suspects are temporarily held at CIDG Angeles Criminal Field Unit for proper disposition pending the filing of administrative and criminal charges against them.

 

Ferro assured the public that the CIDG is one with PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos “in taking necessary legal action to stop the wrongdoing of anybody inside the organization.”

 

“They will face the full weight of the PNP disciplinary machinery. Administrative and criminal cases will be filed against them. They will be disciplined, investigated and we will charge administratively and criminally,” he stressed.

 

For his part, Carlos said he will make sure that the involved police officers will be dismissed, adding any act of illegal activities of any police officers will not be condoned.

 

“This is one thing we will never allow. You are not contributing to the mandate and the function of the organization. We reminded you not to get involved in the illegal activities and yet you are doing it,” Carlos said.

 

“We will make sure that you are pruned, removed from the organization because we don't want to taint the bigger majority of performing and professional police officers and yet there are a few of you that are tainting the excellent job and professional way of performing duty by the majority,” he added. (PNA)

 

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