PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Dionardo B. Carlos yesterday said he has ordered the disarming and conduct of a criminal and administrative investigation of six members of the Northern Police District (NPD) accused of involvement in a robbery-holdup or “hulidap” case in Caloocan City last March 27.

The top cop also ordered National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Major, Gen. Felipe R. Natividad to subject the six accused to a thorough investigation and their restriction to quarters.

There is also an existing PNP policy that automatically includes the immediate superior of erring personnel to investigation under the principle of command responsibility.

“The involved personnel were immediately relieved so a fair investigation can proceed without any undue influence. They are now under restrictive custody and disarmed of their service firearms,” Gen. Carlos said.

The PNP Chief identified the six accused, all members of the Caloocan City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit as Corporals Noel Sison, 33; Rommel Toribio, 29; Ryan Sammy Mateo, 32; Jake Rosima, 36; Mark Christian Cabanilla, 31; and Daryl Sablay, 29.

All have been given a chance to refute the charges against them.

According to Gen. Carlos, an initial investigation showed that the victim, identified as 39-year old Eddie Yuson was walking on his way to Bgy. 117 in Caloocan City to buy food for his family when he was approached by one of the accused, who introduced himself as a police officer.

Investigators who received CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera recordings in the area discovered that the victim was then frisked and searched for his personal belongings.

After a few minutes, a white pick-up truck with the five other suspects onboard appeared.

The victim alleged that the police officers took his cash amounting to P14,000, which he received from the government.

The CCTV footage was later uploaded on social media the following day and became viral.

The victim, however, manifested a lack of interest to file a complaint against the accused through an affidavit administered by Bgy. 118 Chairperson Jerrylyn Bolo, said the PNP chief in a press statement.

Gen. Carlos said that despite the victim’s lack of interest to file a complaint, the PNP will still pursue an investigation of the involved personnel through their Internal Affairs Service.

At present, an administrative complaint for grave misconduct and other appropriate charges against the accused policemen are being prepared, he said.

“We don’t want this isolated incident to tarnish the reputation of the entire organization. They will undergo the process of adjudication to ferret out the truth,” Gen. Carlos said.

PNP Public Information Office Chief, Brigadier Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba said that the six Caloocan City policemen were immediately relieved from their posts to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.

“Nanawagan din kami sa nagpakilalang biktima to fully cooperate sa investigation para mabilis ang takbo ng kaso,” he said.

“The affected DEU personnel will undergo the usual process of adjudication to ferret out the truth. Kumakalap na ng ebidensya ang Internal Affairs Service to determine their possible administrative liabilities,” Alba added.