ALERT Taguig City policemen last Saturday arrested a Laguna policeman and two of his pals accused of robbing a 40-year-old vendor/driver at gunpoint, National Capital Region Police Office director, Major General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said yesterday.

The suspects were identified as Patrolman Rustom Nacional, 29, assigned at the San Pedro City Component Police Station in Laguna, and his companions Francis Macabuhay, 34; and Gerald Bongalonta, 31. They were residents of Barangay Western Bicutan in Taguig City.

According to Taguig City Police Station chief, Colonel Christopher F. Olazo, members of their Sub-Station 2 led by Pat. Emerson Alingog were conducting mobile patrol along C5 Footbridge near the Centennial Village in Bgy. Western Bicutan when they heard screams for help at around 1:20 a.m. Saturday.

The lawmen rushed to the site to investigate and learned that the victim and several witnesses shouted for help to apprehend a group of motorcycle-riding robbers who held up the latter at gunpoint.

The responding policemen immediately chased and arrested Pat. Nacional and Macabuhay. The cop yielded a Philippine National Police-issued Canik 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing nine bullets while Macabuhay was found in possession of a cal. .38 revolver with six bullets.

Also confiscated from their possession were the victim’s P2,800 in cash and a mobile phone worth P7,800. The suspects’ motorcycle was also seized and impounded by the Taguig City police.

Bongalonta was arrested in a follow-up operation conducted by Sub-Station 2 and Taguig City police intelligence division officers led by Major Ernesto Caparas four hours later.

The three suspects were charged with robbery-holdup, disobedience to a person of an agent in authority, resisting arrest, and direct assault.

An additional case for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 was also filed against Macabuhay after he yielded an unlicensed revolver.

Southern Police District director, Brigadier Gen. Leon Victor Z. Rosete said the arrest of the erring policeman and his accomplices was the result of their much-improved presence and visibility patrols in the southern part of Metro Manila as ordered by Maj. Gen. Nartatez to arrest criminality.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon