The noose further tightened around the neck of the eight policemen tagged in P85 million worth of robbery during an April 2 operation in Las Piñas City after a City Prosecutor found probable cause in the cases of robbery and kidnapping for ransom filed against them.

Police Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said the decision of the Office of the City Prosecutor of Las Piñas is a vindication of their aggressive and immediate action to run after the eight members of the Eastern Police District-District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) as part accountability and internal cleansing.  

“Let me be clear — the NCRPO does not shield any wrongdoing. I will not condone any misdeed perpetrated by any member of NCRPO and I will ensure the filing of airtight cases against police scalawags,” said Aberin.

“We will closely monitor the progress of these criminal cases and we shall ensure that the administrative investigation will result in their dismissal from the service, based on evidence and due process of law,” he added. 

The eight policemen are now detained at the Las Piñas City custodial facility and are also facing separate administrative charges that could lead to their dismissal from the police service if found guilty.

Aberin said that based on the resolution of the Office of the City Prosecutor, there is prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction should the cases proceed to trial.

The eight policemen tagged in the Las Piñas City P85 million robbery are now detained after the cases were filed against them. (photo: NCRPO)

The cases are two counts of Robbery, as defined under Article 294(5) in relation to Article 295 of the Revised Penal Code, and one count of Kidnapping for Ransom under Article 267 of the same Code.

The case of missing DSOU chief 

Aberin said the complaint they filed against the head of the DSOU has been set for preliminary investigation on April 2 and 29.

The DSOU chief, a police major, did not report for duty since the NCRPO found out that the raid on the house of a Chinese businessman was really intended to rob him as the foreigner does not even fit the description of the man in the arrest warrant.

Aberin confirmed that the police major is now on AWOL (absent without official leave) and that an order was already issued to him several days ago to return to work, until now. 

The Internal Affairs Service earlier said that they are expanding its probe to other policemen involved.

For his part, Aberin said the positive development on the case they filed against the erring cops is proof of the NCRPO’s commitment to ethical law enforcement and full cooperation with the judicial process. 

“This action serves as a clear reminder that public trust must be earned through accountability, not assumed by position,” said Aberin.