THE all-out anti-criminality campaign and stepped-up internal cleansing drive by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has been lauded by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos who also called on all PNP units nationwide to do the same with all zeal and dedication.

Last week, the top cop commended the latest anti-criminality haul of the QCPD headed by Brigadier Gen. Remus B. Medina saying it would further help in their efforts to keep criminals on the run as well as preserve peace and order in Metro Manila during the May 9 national and local elections.

The top cop also commended the rest of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. for their intensified campaign against drugs, loose firearms and wanted persons as well as their strict enforcement of the gun ban in the metropolis.

Brig. Gen. Medina said their recent weeklong Simultaneous Anti-Criminlaity and Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) in Q.C. netted 137 drug personalities, 112 wanted persons and 19,855 violators of different Q.C. ordinances.

QCPD officers in patrol also were forced to shoot in self-defense three armed men in separate encounters last February 14 and 20. Medina said the 1st suspect identified as Arthur Agpalo alias ‘Eagleman,’ a suspect in a deadly shooting incident along Niño Street in Barangay Holy Spirit last Valentine’s Day was killed when he tried to escape and seize seven hostages in the area.

The two other unidentified holdupmen were gunned down in a shootout with QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit agents along Araneta Avenue corner G. Roxas Sr. Street in Bgy. Manresa last February 20.

The February 14-20 SACLEO, previously known as the ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-crime operation by the police force saw all 16 QCPD stations hitting their targets, said Medina.

According to the QCPD director, his men launched 57 anti-narcotics operations during the weeklong SACLEO leading to the arrest of 137 targets and the seizure of 261.58 grams of shabu and nearly 1.4 kilos of dried marijuana leaves with a total value of P2.073 million.

The arrested drug personalities are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

On the other hand, QCPD operatives also arrested 112 wanted persons as they served 118 warrants of arrest for various criminal offenses issued by Q.C. courts during the period.

Brig. Gen. Medina said they also apprehended 19,855 ordinance violators, of which a total of 5,351 were ordered to pay fines imposed by the city government.

The official said that 1,399 motorcycles and motor vehicles were also impounded by his men for violation of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. The violations include non-wearing of crash helmets, driving without a license and non-registration of vehicles.

Medina said 109 others involved in illegal gambling activities were also hauled to QCPD stations during their conduct of 39 anti-illegal gambling operations which also led to the confiscation of P71,804 in bets.

The official said four persons were also arrested for illegal possession of firearms during the period. Eleven guns were recovered from the suspects, he added. Two other anti-carnapping operations in the city resulted in the arrest of two suspects.

Last February 21, combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), NCRPO and the QCPD also arrested a 28-year old ‘high-value target’ in Metro Manila after he sold some P3.5 million worth of shabu to an undercover officer in Quezon City, PDEA chair, Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva said.

Arrested during the sting along Quirino Highway in Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Q.C. was Muslimin Kasim Mantil, a native of Poblacion, Talitay, Maguindanao.

Confiscated from the suspect were some 550 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P3.575 million, the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill and a mobile phone he used in making the illegal drug transaction.

Members of the PDEA-NCR under Director Christian Frivaldo and the QCPD Stations 3 and 4 launched the sting with the assistance of the NCRPO Regional Intelligence and the Armed Forces’ Task Force Noah.

The arrested suspect is now facing a non-bailable case for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“Despite the many anti-drug operations that police units have been conducting, we make sure that they are properly coordinated among units or stations within the organization or even those joint operation with other law enforcement agencies. Before the actual operation, it must have undergone a thorough intelligence gathering and surveillance,” Gen. Carlos said.

NO NONSENSE DRIVE VS ROGUE COPS

Gen. Carlos also commended the QCPD leadership for its no-nonsense internal cleansing drive as proven by the actions they made on the case of a drunken member of the QCPD Station 10 who shot a civilian without any provocation and the two other officers who tried to downplay the incident.

The PNP chief congratulated Maj. Gen. Vic Danao and Brig. Gen. Medina for throwing the book on the accused policemen led by Corporal Reymark Rigor who has been charged with frustrated murder but is already out on bail.

“In the recent days, there have been reports of crimes involving police personnel. We want to assure the public that your PNP does not condone any act of violence. An act of few men, does not reflect and disrupt the entire organization’s mission to protect and serve the public,” said Gen. Carlos in instructing Danao and Medina to see to it that Rigor will get the punishment he deserves.

Two investigators from the QCPD Station 10 identified as Staff Sergeant Bryan Busto and Cpl. Jaycee Tordil are also in hot water for downplaying the injury sustained by 22-year old shooting victim Adrianne Castor as mere ‘daplis.’ Castor made the accusation saying that the two policemen left the hospital where he was taken for surgery without gathering information from the doctors.

Castor said the two QCPD Station 10 investigators categorized his shooting as a mere ‘physical injury case’ instead of the more serious crime of frustrated murder, obviously in an attempt to ‘protect’ their Rigor who happened to be one of their operatives.

The two have been ordered restricted inside the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal where they are undergoing pre-charge investigation on orders of Brig. Gen. Medina for neglect of duty for their

failure to conduct a thorough and proper investigation into the said incident.

An investigation showed that Cpl. Rigor was drunk when he got involved in the shooting incident last February 8 along Scout Rallos Extension in Barangay Sacred Heart, Q.C.

QCPD Station 10 commander, Lieutenant Colonel Alex Alberto said they found out that Rigor was driving his motorcycle under the influence when he suddenly stopped and blocked the Grab car ridden by Castor along Scout Rallos.

Without any provocation, Rigor pulled out his firearm, pointed it to the victim, hesitated for a while before going back to his motorcycle and tried to drive again. However, the cop crashed on the ground a few meters away from where he threatened the complainant.

When the beleaguered Castor asked the Grab driver to look for an alternative route and alighted from the car to guide the latter in making a U-turn, the drunken cop who crashed anew on the road fired a shot that hit the victim’s chest. The victim was brought to the East Avenue Medical Center where he accused Rigor’s colleagues of trying to make ‘takip’ on his case.

Two days after the incident, the cop surrendered to his superiors and turned over his PNP-issued pistol without magazine. Brig. Gen. Medina said that as a consequence of his act, the suspect was charged with frustrated murder and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act in relation to the Omnibus Election Code.

The QCPD director said that Rigor has been relieved from the QCPD Station 10, transferred to their Administrative Holding Unit and is now facing summary dismissal proceedings for grave misconduct. Although he has posted bail already, the accused was ordered confined inside Camp Karingal.

The PNP, NCRPO and QCPD leaderships has condemned the Q.C. shooting incident and vowed to never tolerate any wrongdoings of their men.