NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office director Major General Anthony A. Aberin on Sunday that eight members of the District Special Operations Unit of the Eastern Police District are now locked up at the Las Piñas City Police Station jail facing a string of criminal charges.

The official said that the eight who have been stripped of their Philippine National Police-issued firearms and badges were inquested for illegal arrest, robbery, serious illegal detention and kidnapping before the Department of Justice on Saturday night.

Maj. Gen. Aberin said that the same charges hurled against the eight were also filed against the chief of the EPD-DSOU.

“Investigation continues to determine the identity of conspirators, accomplices and accessories for filing of complaints, if evidence warrants,” he added.

The mobile phones of the accused policemen were also confiscated and are being subjected to a digital forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation into the irregularities they purportedly committed, Maj. Gen. Aberin said.

The NCRPO director vowed no mercy for the erring EPD-DSOU personnel who were arrested after a thorough investigation revealed their direct participation in a robbery case which victimized tow Chinese nationals.

He said that their probe showed that the said policemen went to an exclusive subdivision at Barangay Almanza Dos, Las Pinas City around 1:42 p.m. last Wednesday in the guise of serving a warrant of arrest against two Chinese nationals.

However, the Metro Manila police chief said they discovered that the said operation was marred with several operational violations such as improper and questionable coordination with the Las Pinas City Police Station, lack of operational clearance, no Police-Commissioned Officer leading the operation and non-compliance with the use of Body-Worn Cameras, heavily tainting the integrity and legitimacy of their supposed mission.

Maj. Gen. Aberin said they also found out that the Chinese nationals arrested were not the ones indicated in the Warrants of Arrest carried by the eight.

Further, he said that solid and reliable evidence were uncovered that the involved police officers intentionally shut down the residence’ CCTV system, forcibly opened a vault and took away large amounts of money in peso, US Dollars and Malaysian Ringgit.

Expensive jewelry pieces, gadgets and other personal belongings were also allegedly taken by the suspects.

“This highly-questionable conduct of the members of District Special Operations Unit, Eastern Police District will never be condoned by the NCRPO and serious steps were already taken against the involved personnel,” Maj. Gen. Aberin said.

The official said that the eight members of the EPD-DSOU who directly participated in the illegitimate police operation were immediately arrested after pieces of evidence were gathered sufficiently pointing to their direct involvement in the commission of several crimes.

The eight were earlier placed under restrictive custody after they were disarmed.

The NCRPO chief said that he has ordered an investigation to determine the administrative liability of the superiors of the eight even as he vowed that those who will be found to be involved or neglectful will be immediately dismissed from the service, in accord with the proper procedures.

To pave way to an impartial investigation, the official recommended the administrative relief of EPD Director, Brigadier Gen. Villamor Q. Tuliao while the probe is ongoing.

The NCRPO chief assured that due process of law will be the guiding principle in the investigation.

” Those who will be found guilty will face the full force of the law while those who have no participation will have nothing to worry about,” he said.

“This should be a stern and resounding warning to all police officers in NCRPO. I will not allow these kind of police officers to remain in the police service. After the investigation and if evidence will warrant, I will make sure that they will be dismissed from the service and they will rot in jail for their criminal conduct. NCRPO has no place for police scalawags,” he emphasized.

“I will not allow you to destroy the good and dedicated service of the majority of PNP members who are doing their job right,” the official added.

Philippine National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil earlier warned that ‘heads will roll’ as a result of the anomaly.

“This is no longer just about rogue officers—it is a failure of leadership,” Gen. Marbil declared. “When discipline collapses, it begins at the top. Leaders will be held to the highest standards of accountability,” he added.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon