Cops accused of faking arrest warrant to barge, rob trader in Zambo City
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—Five police officers had been charged in this city with armed robbery for allegedly robbing the family of a local businessman with over P2 million in cash and other personal items.
Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, the city police director, said the policemen faked a warrant of arrest so they can enter the house of businessman Al-Ghabid Umabong Abdul, 27, in Barangay Tetuan at around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 14.
The warrant was supposedly against Abdul’s father, Abdurajik Abdul.
Citing the account of Abdul, Lorenzo said the armed men presented themselves as members of the police’s Regional Special Operations Group.
They then barged in, with two persons immediately going upstairs to check on the rooms, took away P200,000 cash placed on top of a drawer, emptied two vaults all containing P1.9 million cash, and carted away 8 mobile phones.
They then fled aboard a waiting gray vehicle with plate number NDZ3540.
Abdul’s narration cited six heavily armed men but the Zamboanga City Police Office had filed cases against five men only.
Lorenzo said they have already arrested the five police officers and had also filed complaints against them at the city prosecutor’s office last Tuesday; four charged with armed robbery and one with robbery in band.
READ: Police station chief, 4 cop execs nabbed for extortion, robbery in Zamboanga City
A police blotter obtained by the Inquirer identified the suspects as Lt. Ariel Fernandez Jolatoria, 43, Police Staff Master Sergeant Alnajer Abdul Ynawat, 41, Patrolman Ryan Rodriguez Apostol, 31, Police Staff Sgt. Edcel Balaga Nicolas, 42, and PO2 Bobby Buscaino Judan.
Lorenzo said the four police officers were arrested in four different locations in this city, while the other one surrendered in Alicia town, Zamboanga del Sur last November 18.
