A rookie policeman is being accused of taking an iPhone and P10,000 in cash from a student of De La Salle University, who said the officer accosted him last month for no valid reason and threatened to either shoot or frame him for a crime.
A robbery case was filed Monday in the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office against PO1 Christian Santos based on a complaint from Victor Miranda, 18.
According to a report by SPO1 James Poso of the Manila Police District-General Assignment Section (MPD-GAS), Miranda had just stepped out of a bar in Manila around 5 a.m. on Feb. 17 and was talking to his girlfriend on the phone when Santos approached him.
Santos allegedly demanded Miranda’s cell phone and wallet, and threatened to book the student for possession of illegal drugs if he refused. The officer also threatened to shoot him and frame him as a snatcher if he would run away, the report said.
Santos then brought Miranda to the police assistance tent on Remedios Circle, where Miranda handed over his iPhone 5 worth P35,000 and his wallet containing P10,000 in cash.
Miranda said the policeman later returned his wallet, with all its cash gone except for P500 supposedly for his fare.
Members of the MPD Ermita station and GAS conducted follow-up operations after Miranda reported the incident but they couldn’t locate the suspect who was then identified only as Santos through his name tag.
An informant told Miranda that Santos was detailed in the Pasay City police. The student later identified Santos through an entry in a police index card system containing photos, a copy of which was submitted to MPD-GAS on Friday.
Further background checks revealed that Santos was assigned in the Regional Public Safety Battalion in Bicutan, Taguig City. He was earlier posted in Pasay to augment the local force and later transferred to the Northern Police District.
Santos was summoned by the MPD for an investigation but failed to appear. Aside from the robbery case, he also faces administrative proceedings.