Ang Pahayagan

PAMPANGA – A Special investigation Task Group (SITG) has been formed to investigate five police officers for allegedly stealing PHP14 million in cash from a private contractor in Porac, Pampanga.

In a phone interview with Camp Crame-based reporters on Friday, Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO-3) chief Brig. Gen Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said the robbery allegedly happened in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Porac, Pampanga involving a police major, two police corporals and two police staff sergeants.

One of the corporals was assigned to the Zambales Provincial Police Office but was previously assigned to the Angeles City Police Station 2, according to the Central Luzon police chief.

“I created a special investigation task group para mas matutukan lahat ng anggulo ng investigation… Hopefully, makapag-file tayo ng case against doon sa identified suspects [this afternoon] I created a special investigation task group to really dig into all angles in the investigation. Hopefully, we’ll be able to file a case against the identified suspects this afternoon),” Peñones said.

The PRO-3 director said the officers have since been relieved from their posts and put on restrictive custody while the investigation is ongoing.

Of the five officers, three have a derogatory record with the PNP, one of whom was previously involved in a shooting incident while another in robbery-extortion.

Peñones said the officers, except for the police major, entered the contractor’s home in Barangay Santa Cruz in Porac, Pampanga on the evening of Nov. 25, wearing face coverings.

The officers allegedly locked up the contractor, her family and her guests in a comfort room while they took PHP14 million in cash.

Peñones said while the police major was not caught on security camera entering the home, he may have been the mastermind.

“Hindi ito operation. Even yung pre-operation [documents], wala sila. Talagang magnakaw lang talaga. And tinitignan din natin na baka may ibang involvement din ng sibilyan (This was not a police operation. They didn’t even have pre-operation documents. Their objective really was to steal. And we’re looking at the possible involvement of civilians),” he said.

Asked about the contractor’s background, Peñones said, “Hindi ito involved sa flood control. Ordinary contractor lang ito… Normally, ang contractor kasi, may cash na hawak yan para, ‘pag magpapasweldo, mabilis. (It is not involved in flood control. This is just an ordinary contractor. Normally, a contractor has cash on hand so that it could give out salaries faster).”

Peñones did not specify the criminal cases that would be filed against the officers. Administratively, however, they would be slapped with charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

He noted that the police can only lodge cases against the officers through regular filing since the incident took place last Nov. 25.

For his part, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he has tasked the PNP Internal Affairs Service to conduct a separate investigation into the incident in Pampanga.

“Let this serve as a warning to the few remaining bad eggs that the entire police force will come after you once you compromise the integrity and discipline of the PNP,” he said. (PNA)