BALAGTAS, Bulacan—Three police officers were charged with robbery before the Bulacan Prosecutors Office in City of Malolos on Friday after they were figured in an alleged more than P30-million worth of robbery incident in this town, police officials said.
Bulacan Police OIC Director Col. Satur Ediong identified those charged as PSSg Anthony Ancheta, 48 assigned at City of Malolos police station; Police Maj. Armando Reyes, assigned at Hagonoy police station and PSMS Ronnie Galion, 43, from Sta. Maria police station.
Balagtas municipal police station troops, elements from Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Unit, Provincial Mobile Force Command, Bulacan Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) unit and Bulacan Police Investigation and Detection Management Unit (PIDMU) collared them while in a follow-up operation at around 9:00 p.m., twelve hours after they robbed businessman Emerson Magbitang, 35, at about 10: a.m. inside his house at Saint Francis Subdivision, Barangay Borol 2nd this town.
Magbitang immediately reported the incident to Balagtas police station.
A police officer but who refused to be quoted told NEWS CORE on Sunday that Reyes and Galion were arrested inside a house in Sta. Maria town during the hot pursuit operation while Ancheta was arrested while he was being questioned inside the Balagtas police station just few hours after Magbitang lodged a complaint against him.
The suspects who were seen wearing jackets with hoods were immediately identified by the pursuing troops due to the description of their get-away vehicles, a Toyota Avanza and a Toyota Altis, Police Major Norweda Usman, Bulacan Police Information officer said.
A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage outside the house of Magbitang that was obtained by the authorities showed the armed suspects in haste going out of the house of the victim and boarded the said two get-away vehicles.
One of them carried a bag which was suspected carrying the stolen cash money and valuable gadgets. Other motorists who saw the suspects also gave testimonies to the police.
The same police officer interviewed by News Core would not confirm earlier reports that one of the three policemen were former “ninja cops” who were re-assigned to Mindanao and were also previously dismissed from the service. “Those allegations are still being investigated,” the officer said.
Usman said the police failed to recover the stolen cash money and the gadgets.
Magbitang, police said, is engaged in trucking business and is also a pharmaceutical supplier. One of the three suspects has also previously worked in his company.
Ediong told News Core that five unidentified suspects have remain at large and are now being trailed. Ediong however would not confirm if the five suspects are also police officers.
The three arrested are now held inside Balagtas municipal jail. They also face administrative charges.
Police Region 3 director BGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. has assaulted the incident involving three uniformed personnel assigned in Bulacan.
In a statement released to media on Saturday, he said the incident has once again cast a shadow over the police force undermining the trust they have diligently worked to build with the public.
He said he personally visited the Bulacan police provincial office and addressed and instructed all unit commanders 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. However, given the seriousness of these allegations, it is crucial to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to uncover the full truth. Rest assured that there will be no cover ups. If found guilty, those responsible will be held accountable and face the consequences of their actions,” Hidalgo said. “We have remained resolute in our commitment to internal cleansing, ensuring that those who betray the public’s trust will be punished and removed from the service,” the regional director added.
