PNP recommends dismissal of 6 Caloocan cops accused of robbing sidewalk vendor

Facade of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. Image from pnp.gov.ph website

MANILA, Philippines — Six Caloocan City policemen who were earlier accused of robbing a sidewalk vendor of P14,000 have been recommended for dismissal from the service, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

The PNP-Internal Affairs Service recommended the dismissal from the police service of Noel Espejo Sison, 33; Rommel Toribio, 29; Ryan Sammy Gomez Mateo, 32; Jake Barcenilla Rosima, 35; Mark Christian Abarca Cabanilla, 31; and Daryl Calija Sablay, 29.

They were found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, according to PNP.

“The recommendation was to dismiss the involved police personnel,” the PNP said in a statement.

“The decision was made after a careful examination of all the pieces of evidence presented and the failure of the cops to substantially justify their actions against the vendor,” it added.

In April, a sidewalk vendor, identified as 39-year-old Eddie Acaso Yuson, accused the six police officers of taking his cash on his way to a fast-food restaurant to buy food for his family.

The P14,000 cash he lost was financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The incident sparked widespread criticism from social media users when a closed circuit television (CCTV)  footage that showed the robbery went viral.

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