PNP chief Dionardo Carlos yesterday vowed that eight policemen, including a major, who were arrested last Wednesday in Angeles City in Pampanga for robbery would be dismissed from the service.
Probers from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed charges yesterday against the erring policemen, along with three civilian cohorts, for robbery with violence and intimidation.
“This is an act that we are not going to tolerate. What are you doing? You are not contributing to the mandate and the function of the organization,” Carlos said, referring to the policemen.
The eight are 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. They are assigned with the Anti-Organized Crime Unit of the CIDG.
“We have been reminding them (policemen) not to involve themselves in such activities and yet you are doing it. Sorry. We will make sure that you are pruned, removed from the organization,” said Carlos.
Operatives of the CIDG’s Angeles City Field Unit and CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 arrested the suspects at a house in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City on Wednesday morning after responding to an information about an ongoing robbery.
Three of the policemen tried to resist arrest but were later subdued. Seven Chinese and a Filipino were rescued during the operation.
The CIDG said the suspects claimed they were conducting a buy-bust operation for firearms in the area, but investigation later showed they were lying.
An inspection of the suspects’ Starex van yielded some belongings of the rescued Chinese, including some P300,000 in cash and US dollar bills. Also recovered at the van was a PNP-issued cal. 45 pistol.
