EPD director relieved over DSOU robbery ops
PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil yesterday ordered the immediate relief of newly-promoted Eastern Police District director, Brigadier Gen. Villamor Q. Tuliao in the wake of a controversial operation of some of his men in Las Piñas City.
The top cop also ordered the relief of the entire EPD District Special Operations Unit personnel following grave allegations of extortion and gross misconduct involving the arrest of a Chinese national.
Eight EP-DSOU personnel are now under restrictive custody after being implicated in serious procedural violations and extortion. Criminal charges have been formally filed as part of the PNP’s unwavering resolve to hold all erring personnel accountable—without exception, the PNP chief said.
“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.
The PNP chief made it unequivocally clear: there will be no second chances.
“Those involved must be summarily dismissed from the service and permanently disqualified from holding any position in government. If the director is found liable under the principle of command responsibility, he will never be trusted with any position of leadership again,” he asserted.
The PNP Chief issued a stern warning to all police commanders nationwide following the incident.
According to Gen. Marbil, he has ordered the PNP Internal Affairs Service led by Inspector General Brigido J. Dulay and the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Major Gen. Anthony A. Aberin to conduct a full, thorough, and impartial investigation.
“Administrative and criminal charges will be pursued against all involved,” he said.
Gen. Marbil reaffirmed the PNP’s unrelenting commitment to internal cleansing and professionalization.
“We are cleaning our ranks — without fear, without favor. The Filipino people deserve nothing less than the police force they can trust,” he declared.
Maj. Gen. Aberin earlier ordered the relief of 31 personnel from the EPD-DSOU for allegedly robbing a Chinese businessman of P85 million in cash and valuables in Las Piñas last April 2.
“Let this serve as a clear and final reminder. If you cannot uphold discipline and instill integrity within your ranks, then you have no place in this organization. Command responsibility is not a slogan—it is a mandate,” he said.
He said the relief of the entire unit was made pending the result of an investigation being conducted on eight of their colleagues who were reportedly directly involved in the incident.
“Marami silang violations, lumabas sila sa area of responsibility nila without a proper pre-operations clearance, which is supposed to be approved by the Deputy District Director for Operations ng district,” the official said.
The Metro Manila police chief likewise said that the operation was reportedly led by a police staff sergeant and was made without the use of Body-Worn Cameras or Alternative Recording Devices, which are in full violation of existing police operational procedures.
The concerned officers also failed to submit a report on their operation immediately, he added.
The Chinese siblings claimed that the DSOU who were in plainclothes barged inside their residence to supposedly serve a warrant of arrest for a ‘totally different person.’
The claim that the policemen took millions of pesos in cash, U.S. dollars, and expensive jewelry, watches, a gold bar, and assorted gadgets is now being investigated.
Gen. Marbil further emphasized that every officer, regardless of rank, is duty-bound to uphold the highest standards of public service.
