4 Taguig City cops, cohort arrested for Pasig City robbery

Pieces of evidence recovered from arrested suspects allegedly involved in a robbery incident in Pasig City on Saturday, December 18, 2021 (Photos from NCRPO)

MANILA, Philippines — Four police officers and their cohort who were allegedly involved in a robbery in Pasig City were arrested on Saturday.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Sunday identified the arrested suspects as SSgt. Jayson Bartolome, Cpl. Merick Desoloc, Cpl. Christian Jerome Reyes, and Pat. Kirk Joshua Almojera—all assigned at the Taguig City Police Station—and a certain AJ Mary Agnas who was identified as a “staff of the victims.”

According to a report from the NCRPO, two persons, including a Japanese national, sought assistance from authorities after being robbed in Barangay Kapitolyo on Saturday.

The responding police officers then launched a pursuit operation and were able to trace the fleeing suspects at the West Capitol Drive and Sta. Monica Street.

“The suspects, in their attempt to elude arrest, tossed/threw some cash money in the amount of P1.3 million. During the process, suspects fired at the responding police officers, prompting the latter to retaliate until the two suspects abandoned their motorcycles and climbed the closed gate at West Capitol Drive corner Sta. Monica Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City,” the police report read.

The suspects then forcibly took the motorcycle of a motorist before fleeing from the pursuing operatives towards the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and in Makati City. The stolen motorcycle was later seen abandoned beside the Pasig Mega Parking Plaza along Caruncho Avenue.

The Pasig City Police Station’s Intelligence Section together with the Sub-Station 1 personnel, Special Weapons and Tactics Team, and Criminal Investigation Section later conducted follow-up operations that led to the arrest of Reyes and Agnas.

Meanwhile, Desoloc and Almojera voluntarily surrendered to the Taguig City Police Station and were later turned over to the Pasig City Police Station.

Police said they recovered over P9 million cash from Reyes and P100,000 cash from Desoloc. They also recovered firearms from the four arrested policemen.

According to NCRPO, two other suspects identified as Ferdinand Fallaria, a dismissed policeman formerly assigned at the NCRPO, and a certain Rowel Galan remain at large.

Another suspect identified as Jhon Carlo Atienza was found dead with a gunshot wound along Kalayaan Avenue corner Tolentino St. in Barangay Pinagkaisahan, Makati City. The NCRPO said a caliber 9mm pistol with PNP Property markings was found at the scene where Atienza was found dead.

“Appropriate Criminal charges were readied for filing in court today, December 19, 2021, against the arrested suspects, while the administrative complaints of the involved PNP personnel will be handled by their units/offices,” the police report read.

The NCRPO said its Regional Director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao, upon hearing about the incident, went to the Pasig City Police Station and immediately ordered the relief of the policemen involved, including their Sub-Station Commander for Command Responsibility. Danao also ordered an in-depth investigation to identify other cohorts and conduct manhunt operations for at-large suspects.

/MUF