NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo on Thursday said that the dismissal from the service of six Caloocan City policemen accused of robbing a sidewalk vendor of his P14,000 cash last March 27 should “teach a lesson” to all erring members of the police force that they could not get away with their crimes.

“There is no room for scalawags to stay in the PNP (Philippine National Police), and abuse of power will never be tolerated,” the Metro Manila police chief said.

The six Caloocan City policemen were found guilty of administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer and were ordered dismissed from the police service, said. Estomo.

The six were relieved from their posts and subjected to an internal investigation following a viral social media post that showed them purportedly taking the money of the poor vendor.

The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) headed by Insp. Gen. Alfegar M. Triambulo resolved to recommend to PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. the dismissal of the six for being “unfit and unworthy” of the trust and confidence of the people they ought to serve and protect.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, we will continue to uncover, unmask, and the crackdown on the tactics and hidden irregularities of some of our personnel. We have dealt severely [with] those rogue cops who are engaged in drug-related crimes and other malpractices, and we will keep doing so with the intent of removing them from this organization,” said Estomo.

He also assured the citizenry that all their complaints against abusive acts and irregularities being committed by any member of the police force are being heard, acted upon, and investigated accordingly in line with the intensified internal cleansing program of PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

Last April, then PNP chief, now retired Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos, ordered the relief and investigation of the six police officers, all members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Caloocan City Police Station.

All were also stripped of their PNP-issued firearms following their relief in connection with the complaint of a vendor. The complainant said he was on his way to Barangay 117 last March 27 to buy food when he was approached by one of the suspects, who introduced himself as a police officer.

A CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera footage, which became “viral” after being uploaded and shared on social media, showed that the complainant was frisked and his belongings searched.

The video also showed the five other suspects on board a white pickup truck approaching the vendor after a few minutes.

The distraught victim claimed that the policemen took his cash, amounting to P14,000.

Carlos called on the victim to fully cooperate with their investigation leading to the dismissal of the six. The PNP leadership condemned the “unacceptable behavior” of the accused and vowed to hold them accountable for their misdeeds.