3 BULACAN COPS IN HOLDUP DISARMED, HAULED TO JAIL

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil has ordered the disarming and sending to jail of hree Bulacan policemen accused of involvement in a multi-million robbery incident in Balagtas, Bulacan last Wednesday.

Marbil also instructed the PNP Internal Affairs Service to consider the filing of administrative case against the accused – a police major and two non-commissioned officers.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean S. Fajardo said investigators are building enough evidence needed to ensure a very tight case against the three.

Fajardo said it appears that one of the accused policemen was known to the victim and could possibly have masterminded the robbery.

Four other suspects are still being hunted.

Investigators are also looking at previous robbery-holdup cases in the province, which could have been possibly perpetrated by the suspects.

An initial investigation showed that the robbery took place inside the Saint Francis Subdivision in Bgy. Borol 2^nd in Balagtas, Bulacan around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The victim was a 35-year-old businessman and pharmaceutical supplier who claimed he was robbed by seven armed men.

Follow-up operations conducted by the Bulacan Police Provincial Office led to the arrest of the three cop suspects in the same evening.

First to be arrested was a 48-year-old Police Staff Sergeant assigned at the Malolos City Police Station followed by a 55-year-old police major from the Hagonoy Municipal Police Station, and a 43-year-old Police Senior Master Sergeant from the Sta. Maria MPS.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr.  yesterday said he will not tolerate any wrongdoings of his men.

“The incident has once again cast a shadow over our police force, undermining the trust we have diligently worked to build with the public, ” said Hidalgo, adding he personally visited the Bulacan Police Provincial Office and addressed all unit commanders, instructing them to remind their personnel to uphold the law and never engage in illegal activities.

“Let me be clear, we do not, and will never, condone any unlawful acts committed by members of our ranks,” he stressed.

Hidalgo said the cop-suspects are now in police custody.

The Central Luzon top cop said there will be no cover-ups in the ongoing investigation. If found guilty, those responsible will be held accountable and face the full consequences of their actions,”  Hidalgo further said.