EIGHT police personnel assigned at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were arrested over a robbery incident victimizing seven Chinese nationals and a Filipina in Angeles City, Pampanga on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
In a report reaching Camp Crame, CIDG regional field unit (RFU) 3 identified the arrested cops as Major Ferdinand Mendoza, Staff Sergeants Mark Anthony Reyes Iral and Sanny Ric Alicante, Corporals Richmond Francia, John Gervic Fajardo and Kenneth Rheiner Ferrer Delfin and Patrolmen Leandro Veloso Mangale and Hermogines Rosario Jr., who were all members of CIDG Anti-Organized Criminal Unit.
The RFU conducted an operation after receiving a report around 1 a.m. about an ongoing robbery in a residential area in Diamond Subdivision, Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, perpetrated by a group of armed men in civilian clothes who identified themselves as CIDG personnel.
Upon the arrival of the responding cops in the area, they cornered the suspects who claimed they were conducting a buy-bust operation.
“In the course of investigation, it was later learned that the suspects held the seven male Chinese nationals and one Filipino house servant inside the said house. It was also observed that all of the things inside the said premise are disarrayed. Twelve computers that are set up similar to Pogo operation was noticed at the living room,” RFU said in its report.
“The team leader claimed that they are conducting buy-bust operation of firearms in the said place. However, it was later found to be untrue. When their vehicles were checked, assorted belongings of the Chinese were found therein, including cash money amounting to more or less P300,000 and US dollar bills,” it added.
The suspects are temporarily held at CIDG Angeles Criminal Field Unit for proper disposition pending the filing of administrative and criminal charges against them. (SunStar Philippines)