LUCENA CITY –– At least seven persons were arrested after allegedly robbing and mauling a retired policeman who tried to stop the destruction of a subdivision fence in this city on Sunday.
Police Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Arnold Polvida, Apolinio Orejola, Reynaldo Aquino, Vicente Dehita Jr., Efren Talisic, Gilbert Martinez, and Charles Batiller, all residents of this city.
A police report said the suspects were destroying the perimeter fence of Calmar Homes Phase 3 subdivision in Barangay Kanlurang Mayao around 3 p.m.
Noel Manga, 59, a retired policeman and officer of the subdivision homeowner’s association, along with some fellow officers, went to the site and asked the suspects to stop the destruction.
But despite introducing himself as a former policeman, the suspects reportedly mauled the victim and grabbed his caliber .45 pistol.
The suspects also allegedly robbed the victim of personal belongings – a gold necklace, wristwatch, mobile phone, and wallet with cash – all amounting to P200,000.
Local policemen responded but only managed to arrest the seven suspects.
The other culprits identified as Danilo Carlos, Bryan Sardinia, one “Mr. Sales,” and 10 others escaped with the loot.
Police are now hunting them.
The police tagged the suspects, all informal settlers, as members of the “Alpha Omega World Development Marshall Programme and Filipus HOA,” based in the same village.