MANILA, Philippines—Motorcycle robbers dressed like policemen took away a motorcycle from two port workers whom they flagged down at what turned out to be a bogus police checkpoint in Manila early Saturday, police said.
A police report on the incident said the two thieves were in complete police uniform and were armed with a .45 caliber pistol and an automatic rifle, which led the two motorcycle riders to believe they were legitimate police operatives.
Police routinely stop motorcycle riders for identity checks and registration verification in the name of preventing crime by motorcycle-riding hoods.
Jess Hipolito, 47, an operations coordinator at the Harbor Center, of Dagat-Dagatan, Malabon City, reported that the “policemen” stole a Yamaha Mio (2951-TQ) he borrowed for an errand from his colleague, Marvin Nercena.
In a complaint filed with the Manila Police District anti-car theft and hijacking (MPD-ANCARH) unit, Hipolito said that the incident happened at around 1 a.m. Saturday at Katuparan, Road 10 in Tondo.
He and another colleague, Patrick Cabilles, were on an errand to buy food when they were flagged down by supposed uniformed policemen conducting a checkpoint operation.
When he told one of the policemen, who identified himself as an “SPO3 Dominguez,” that the motorcycle was borrowed, the officer asked for P1,000, pointing out alleged deficiencies in the vehicle’s registration.
The demand prompted Hipolito to call Nercena and ask him to come over. When the owner arrived, Hipolito and Cabilles had alighted from the motorcycle and were talking with Dominguez while the other policeman had gotten on another motorcycle, waiting for his companion.
Nercena then told Dominguez that he could give him only P200, which he had to borrow from Hipolito. SPO3 Dominguez pocketed the money and mounted Hipolito’s motorcycle.
To the three harbor workers’ surprise, the policeman started the engine and sped away on the motorcycle, followed by the other motorcycle-riding policeman.
The trio immediately sought assistance from the nearest police station and reported the incident to the MPD-ANCARH unit, which is now looking for motorcycle thieves in cops’ clothing.