CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Three police officers have been identified as suspects in the robbery of a house at Grand Centennial Homes, Barangay Magdalo-Potol, Kawit, Cavite, on Tuesday, February 13.
LUCAS announces the arrest of three policemen allegedly involved in a home robbery in Kawit, Cavite. (Photo via Danny Estacio)
Police Regional Office 4-A chief Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, in a press conference in this camp on Wednesday, March 6, identified the suspects as Police Senior Master Sgt. Jhon Paolo Maigue Mellona, Police Senior Master Sgt. Reynaldo Andrada Quilit Jr., and Police Corporal Lynard Pastrana Pareja.
Lucas said the suspects, accompanied by two civilian cohorts and four John Does, wearing black jackets and gray long sleeves with caps and face masks, entered two houses and at gunpoint hogtied occupants and carted away valuables.
Follow-up investigation showed that the suspects used a white Toyota Hi-Ace van registered to a private individual in Tanza, Cavite as get-away vehicle.
The van owner was tracked and disclosed the identity of the individual who rented the vehicle – Mellona.
Police later managed to identify the rest of the suspects.
Suspects face charges of robbery in band which adheres to the case buildup procedure provided for in Department Circular No. 20 of the Department of Justice.
The three police officers have been relieved from their posts and reassigned to the Regional Headquarters Holding Area Section under restrictive custody.
Lucas ordered the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division in coordination with the Regional Internal Affairs Service to conduct a parallel administrative investigation.
He condemned misconduct within the police force.
"I reiterate my clear stance against misconduct by any member of our force. We condemn such actions in the strongest terms and assure the public that these officers, if found guilty, will meet the full arms of the law,” he said. “We will ensure the safety and security of our community and we shall have zero tolerance for any form of criminal activity involving members of our police force," Lucas added.