MANILA, Philippines — A police corporal assigned at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) was arrested for allegedly robbing an LBC branch in San Miguel, Bulacan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Tuesday.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement, identified the arrested QCPD officer as Police Corporal Moises Yango, 29, from Barangay Sikatuna Village in Quezon City.
Yango being arrested. Photo from PNP-Public Information Office
Citing a report from the Bulacan Provincial Police, Eleazar said a man wearing a black bonnet, orange helmet, and a black long-sleeved shirt entered the LBC branch in Barangay Camias at 1 p.m. on Sunday and declared the robbery.
“After taking the money, the suspect rode a black motorcycle with no license plate and sped off,” the PNP said. “The incident, however, was immediately reported to the local police and a flash alarm was sent to nearby police stations.”
Authorities immediately conducted a pursuit operation which led to the arrest of the suspect who was later identified as Yango based on the IDs seized from him during a search.
Also seized from Yango were a hand grenade, a 9mm pistol, his PNP ID card and various identification cards, ATM bank cards, and the P5,000 cash taken from the LBC outlet.
Grenade, 9 mm pistol, and cash recovered from Yango. Photo from PNP-Public Information Office.
Yango is now detained at the San Miguel Municipal Police Station, according to the PNP.
Eleazar said he has ordered Yango’s immediate dismissal from the police service and the filing of criminal and administrative charges against him.
“I will personally monitor the progress of his administrative case and make sure na hindi na siya makakabalik sa serbisyo (that he will never return to the police service),” said Eleazar.
“Based dun sa report, he is only 29 years old so ibig sabihin ilang taon pa lang siya sa serbisyo,” said Eleazar.
(According to the report, he was only 29 years old so it means he’s only a few years in the service.)
Eleazar said the PNP will start the recruitment of more than 17,000 policemen this year through the QR Code System to ensure that only qualified applicants will be selected.
“This is actually the wisdom behind the aggressive reform in the recruitment system through the QR Code System,” Eleazar said.
“Umpisa pa lang, salain na natin kung sino ang papasok para hindi na mabigyan ng lugar ang mga ganitong klaseng tao na makapasok sa PNP dahil sinisira lang nila ang aming organisasyon,” he added.
(From the start, we will screen those who will be entering the police force to prevent persons who will damage the image of the PNP from joining.)