Four active-duty Taguig policemen and a civilian have been charged with robbery in connection with P30 million robbery case involving a Japanese national and his Filipina live-in partner in Pasig City at midnight on Saturday.
Pasig Police chief Col. Roman Cornel Arugay said Police Staff Sergeant Jayson Bartolome, Police Corporal (PCpl) Merick Desoloc, PCpl Christian Jerome Reyes, Patrolman Pat Kirk Joshua Almojera, and a civilian identified as AJ Marie Arnas. Arnas is an employee of victims Kani Toshihiro, 42, and Joana Marie Espiritu in Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.
Arugay said that a manhunt operation is still ongoing against two other suspects identified as Ferdinand Pallaria, a dismissed policeman and a certain Rowel Galan.
On Monday, Taguig City Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano sought for a full investigation of the incident after reports came in that a city government employee was also involved in the incident.
“I am creating a special investigation committee that will immediately look into a robbery incident involving a Taguig City employee. All links in relation to this incident will be looked into,” the mayor said, stressing that the city condemns all acts of violence, illegal drugs, and corruption and it will not tolerate any employee who is involved in any form of crime.
The suspects were presented to National Capital Region Police Office Chief Police Maj. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr., who berated them for damaging the credibility of an otherwise serious campaign on illegal drugs. The suspects made it appear that they are conducting an anti-drug operation but they were not able to show a search warrant.
His anger flared up upon learning that one of them even reported for duty after the robbery.
“Ikaw on duty ka pa ha? Kasagsagan ng Pasko nagho-hold-up kayo [You, you’re even on duty. You’re holding up people during the Christmas season]?” Danao, who was fuming, told the suspects.
Read full article on BusinessMirror
