Davao police execs axed after 2 cops under them linked to robbery

Assorted high powered firearms seized from the two arrested policemen at a checkpoint in General Santos City after they allegedly robbed a trader on Tuesday night. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

DAVAO CITY — The regional police director has relieved two city police officers who arrested their subordinates on Tuesday night for robbing a fish trader in General Santos City.

Upon the order of Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr., director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, Colonel Alberto Lupaz, director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), on Wednesday relieved Major Melvin Montecillo, head of the Foot Patrol and Bike Unit, and Major Milan Naz, station commander of Bunawan Police station, after the arrest on Tuesday night of their respective subordinates Chief Master Sergeant Renante Medina and Master Sergeant Christopher Ararao in General Santos City.

Medina and Ararao were with two civilians from Davao City when they barged inside the house of fish dealer Jacky Faeldin, 37, a report by the General Santos City police said.

The police said the four suspects took the victim’s mobile phone, two unopened coin banks and a cash worth P165,000.

Assorted high powered firearms and cash seized from the two arrested policemen at a checkpoint in General Santos City after they allegedly robbed a trader on Tuesday night. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

After the incident, the fish dealer called the police, who immediately put up chokepoints along the way and arrested the erring cops and their civilian companions on their way back to Davao City.

Medina, Ararao, and their civilian companions Edwin Salvador, 40, and Winston Jay Ongco, 30, were apprehended in a chokepoint in Barangay San Jose, and yielded their personal belonging like cellular phones and the P165,000 in cash they took from the victim, according to the police.

Also seized from the policemen were one 5.56 Bushmaster rifle, two caliber .45 caliber pistols, two 9 millimeter pistols, a rifle grenade projectile and personal items, including a cop uniform.

Police said they would face hold-up, robbery, and illegal possession of high powered firearms charges.

“Police Regional Office 11 would not tolerate any personnel engaging in any act of lawlessness or crime. Hence, everyone could expect a fair and honest investigation,” the PRO 11 said in a statement.

Aside from the criminal complaints, the two erring policemen would also face administrative complaints, hence, are forced to take a “leave of absence,” the PRO stated.

Major Catherine de la Rey, DCPO spokesperson, said upon learning about the incident, Lupaz sent a team to investigate.

She said her office vowed to make the erring police accountable for their actions once proven to have committed the crime.

“The DCPO will not condone anyone in its ranks who committed a crime. They must face the consequences of their actions,” Dela Rey said.

The two policemen and civilian companions are jailed at the General Santos City lock-up facility.

RELATED STORIES

Duterte dresses down erring police officers | Inquirer News

lzb