Albayalde says another cop involved in Tacloban City robbery

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde during a press briefing at NHQ, Camp Crame, Quezon City. INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA

A policeman has been allegedly involved in a robbery incident in Tacloban City, Police National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde revealed Wednesday.

“If I am not mistaken, yesterday (Tuesday), one of our own again, was involved in robbery-holdup sa [in] Tacloban City,” he said during the awarding ceremony for some personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

A police report obtained by INQUIRER.net showed Police Officer 3 Mariano Tondo Jr. attempted to holdup a gas station in Barangay 96 in Calanipawan on July 29 at around 2:15 pm.

Albayalde disclosed this information a day after a policeman was killed and three others were arrested over an alleged kidnapping-extortion incident in Taguig City.

READ: 3 policemen in kidnap-for-ransom fall, another killed in Taguig

Tondo faces a case of robbery with intimidation through an inquest proceeding in the City Prosecutor’s Office.

The PNP chief, meanwhile, lamented the crimes committed by policemen despite their doubled salary.

“Bakit hanggang ngayon – despite the fact na nadagdagan, na na-doble na ‘yung ating sweldo at napakahirap maging pulis – and yet marami pa rin sa ating hanay na gumagawa ng hindi maganda?” he asked.

(Why is it that until now – despite the fact that our salary has been increased, doubled already and it is really hard to become a policeman – there are still many in our ranks who do bad things?)

Albayalde earlier warned that the PNP’s internal cleansing would continue to be “chilling” and “deadly” against police officers, who engage in criminal activities. /kga, je