The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to spare no one in its investigation of eight Camp Crame-based policemen who were arrested on Wednesday by their colleagues in Pampanga for allegedly robbing a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in Angeles City.
“There will be no sacred cows in this investigation which will include their immediate superior officers and others who may have provided support to their activities,” PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said.
The eight policemen who are members of the Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU) of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) based at Camp Crame were apprehended by members of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 and CIDG Angeles City Field Unit after they reportedly barged into the premises of POGO company and allegedly robbed its employees, who are mostly Chinese.
The policemen were identified as Major Ferdinand Mendoza; Ssg. Mark Anthony Reyes Iral; Ssg. Sanny Ric S. Alicante; Cpl. Richmond P. Francia; Cpl. John Gervic N. Fajardo; Cpl. Kenneth Rheiner Ferrer Delfin; Pat. Leandro Veloso Mangale and Pat. Hermogenes A. Rosario Jr.
Carlos broke the arrest of the policemen on Wednesday after he was briefed by CIDG chief Major Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro.
The eight policemen were arrested by their colleagues based at No.11-16 Missael Street, Diamond Subdivision, Barangay Balibago, Angeles City.
The arresting team was responding to a reported robbery in progress when they intercepted the AOCU men coming out of the house brandishing their firearms.
“When confronted, the suspects identified themselves as CIDG personnel conducting buy-bust operation for firearms. However, a further search inside the house led to the rescue of seven Chinese and a Filipino being held captive by the group,” Carlos said.
The arresting team found the house in disarray where “12 computer terminals were set-up in the living room similar to a clandestine POGO operation.”
“The arresting team also searched a Starex van used by the suspects and recovered P300,000 cash and US dollar bills and a cal. .45 Infinity pistol,” Carlos said.
The PNP chief ordered Ferro to dig deeper into the activities of the arrested CIDG-AOCU personnel to “possibly uncover their involvement in similar previous cases.”