PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – Four personnel of the Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (ADSPPO) are now under restrictive custody after their involvement in a robbery last January 14.
In a statement Tuesday, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) said its director, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. also ordered the dismissal of the police officers identified as Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Laro, Staff Sgt. Dariel John Mozo, Staff Sgt. Richard Ayala and Pat. Ivan Klein B. Osorio, all members of the ADSPPO's Provincial Intelligence Unit.
Investigation showed that on the afternoon of January 14, businessman Jasper Salude Pabilic, 35, of Purok 6B, Poblacion, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental was at the Church of Living Hope Faith Tabernacle in Purok 5, Cogonon, Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur for a business transaction with Pastor Nilo Dian involving the sale of agarwood items.
Agarwood is an expensive tree species known for its fragrant bark used in incense, perfume, and small carvings.
In the middle of the transaction, four armed men sporting bullet vests with "Pulis" markings suddenly appeared and ordered them to stand still.
The armed men then forcibly carted away their mobile phones, cash amounting to PHP2.7 million, and the agarwood items.
“Brig. Gen. Caramat, based on police records, ordered a hot pursuit operation at around 6:00 a.m. of Jan. 15 following an intelligence report that armed persons clothed in police uniform were involved in an alleged robbery-in-band early afternoon of Jan. 14,” the PRO-13 said.
After receiving the order, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 13, the Regional Intelligence Division 13, and the Agusan del Sur Provincial Field Unit (ADS PFU) alerted and mobilized their teams in Agusan del Sur resulting in the identification of those involved in the robbery, including the discovery of the ADSPPO vehicle they used during the commission of the crime.
“Review of CCTV footages in the area also helped the operating police personnel in the identification of the suspects and in tracing the vehicle they used,” the PRO-13 said.
It added that on January 16, Caramat received a call from the police provincial director of the ADSPPO regarding the surrender of the four cops involved in the crime.
“The police officers involved were positively identified by the victim,” it said.
“This unlawful act does not reflect the mandates and guidelines of the members of Philippine National Police (PNP) and furthermore damages the hard work and dedication of PRO-13 for the betterment of Caraga Region,” Caramat said.
He added that the PRO-13 does not condone these atrocious deeds and that the perpetrators will be meted with severe punishment.
“I also encourage the public not to generalize the act of the suspects to the whole police organization but relive the contributions of the PNP in name of public safety and service,” Caramat said. (PNA)
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos said the erring police officers will undergo further investigation by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Internal Affairs Service.
“The investigation will give the accused policemen the opportunity to present their side and explain their actions. Meantime, we will give them the benefit of the doubt until such time that all facts and evidence are established to build a case,” Carlos said. (with a report from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
