Authorities arrested three police officers allegedly involved in a robbery-holdup at a businessman's house in Saint Francis, Barangay Borol 1st, Balagtas, Bulacan on Wednesday, August 28.
The suspects -- a police staff sergeant, a police major, and a police senior master sergeant -- are now under police custody.
Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr, Central Luzon police regional director, personally visits the Bulacan PPO and talked to OIC Bulacan police director Col. Satur L. Ediong and the city and town police commanders. He emphasized the importance of all commanders closely monitoring the activities of their personnel to avoid any involvement in all kinds of illegal activities. (Photo from Bulacan PPO)
The victim was identified as Emerson Ignacio Magbitang Jr., 35.
The three cops were arrested in a follow-up operation conducted by the police personnel of Balagtas, Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Unit; Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Unit ( PIDM), Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).
According to the police report, the robbery incident happened at around 10:00 a.m. in the victim's house and was reported to the police station at around 10:35 am on August 28.
The police team was dispatched for a follow-up operation which resulted in the arrest of three of the seven suspects at around 9:00 p.m. on the same day.
The victim told police probers that the seven men entered his place and asked for financial assistance, but they later pulled out their guns and announced the holdup.
The victim said the suspects hurriedly went inside his house and took cellphones, bags, gadgets, and a still undetermined amount of money. They fled aboard a Toyota Avanza.
As of this writing, Bulacan police are conducting follow-up operations to apprehend the other suspects.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr., Region III police director, expressed dismay over the incident because three of the suspects are members of the Bulacan police office where they are now under custody.
Hidalgo said the incident has once again cast a shadow over their police force, undermining the trust they have diligently worked to build with the public.
The Region 3 police director said he visited the Bulacan PPO and addressed all unit commanders, instructing them to remind their personnel to uphold the law and never engage in illegal activities.
"Let me be clear: We do not, and will never, condone any unlawful acts committed by members of our ranks," Hidalgo said.