POLICE probers yesterday filed a case of robbery against 10 Pampanga policemen who were implicated in the alleged robbery of 10 individuals involved in illegal cockfighting in Bacolor, Pampanga last Saturday.
The cases were lodged against the cops, all assigned with the intelligence unit of the Pampanga provincial police office, before the Pampanga prosecutors office yesterday afternoon.
“It (case) was already received (by the Prosecutors office), I’ts already filed,” said Bacolor police investigator Corporal Mark Jim Simbulan.
The 10 were identified as Master Sergeant Rommeo Nool; Corporals Resty Delima, Jayarr Macaraeg, Alvin Pastorin, and Norman Lazaga; and Patrolmen Jhusua Fernandez, Bryan Steve Pasquin, Bjay Sales, Jayson Martinez, and Jeff Van Cruz.
They have been relieved from their posts and are currently under the custody of the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the Pampanga provincial police office.
“Their relief was automatic,” Simbulan said.
Bacolor police chief Maj. Anselmo Pineda echoed this, saying: “They were already relieved.”
Pineda said the 10 were not placed under arrest because a warrant for their arrest has yet to be issued by the court.
Investigation showed the policemen swooped down last Saturday morning at the compound of one of the victims, Alberto Gopez, in Barangay Duat, Bacolor where a “tupada,” or illegal cockfighting, was being held.
The policemen accosted Gopez and nine others involved in the tupada — Allan Gopez, Angelito Pabalan, Ricardo Canlas, Rodolfo Canlas, Efren Canlas, Jose de Leon, Romeo Garcia, Jesus David and Mario Sicat.
The lawmen released the 10 victims after taking their cash, amounting to P379,700, and valuables and later fled aboard their vehicles.
Simbulan said the policemen admitted during the investigation having conducted the anti-gambling operation but denied robbing the complainants.
Asked why the policemen did not arrest the 10 complainants for holding illegal cockfighting, Simbulan said “that we do not know.”
