CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Calamba City -- Five members of the Santa Rosa City Police Station were found guilty of grave misconduct for robbery/extortion in violation of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, according to Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon) report released here Friday.
The cops were meted the penalty of dismissal from the police service pursuant to National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Memorandum Circular No. 2016-002 as stated in a 15-page decision signed by Police Chief Supt. Ma. O Ranada Aplasca, PRO4A on March 21, 2018.
The five dismissed cops were Police Officer 3 (PO3) Warren Ryan M. Carpena; PO3 Troyluss Ambrocius C. Yldeso; PO2 John Morris A. Alicbusan; PO1 Clayson P. Benabese; and PO1 Glicerio L. Cruzen.
“This incident should serve as a reminder to the rest of the members of PRO Calabarzon that we do not tolerate incident such as this one. We are very serious in cleansing our own ranks from rogue members," Aplasca said in his report.
The administrative case stemmed from the complaint of spouses Cristy and Rommel De Castro due to a ‘Tokhang-for-Ransom” incident on August 4, 2017 at about 1 p.m. in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.
The spouses complained that they were allegedly held in captivity by the five policemen while on board their Toyota Fortuner vehicle in front of the Robinson’s Mall and were brought to a slaughter house in Barangay Sinalhan where their vehicle was searched and then the five cops took their belongings.
The spouses claimed that the cops demanded PHP 1 million as settlement of the fabricated drug charges for violating the provision of Republic Act 9165, or the “Comprehenbsive Dangerous Drugs Act,” and that the couple were able to withdraw cash through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) amounting to PHP 33,200.
Based on the spouses’ complaint, the five police officers were formally charged on Sept. 12, 2017 with Grave Misconduct in Violation of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code on Robbery/Extortion.
The five accused vehemently and vigorously denied the charges filed against them but after careful examination of the pieces of evidence submitted by both parties during the conduct of the Summary Hearing Procedure, the disciplinary authority found basis to hold the respondents liable and found guilty for the offense. (PNA)
