MANILA, Philippines – Eight Quezon City policemen were sacked on Monday for their alleged involvement in the robbery and abduction incident on the southbound lane of Edsa in Mandaluyong City that was photographed by a lone motorist.
The photo went viral on social media, forcing authorities to launch a thorough probe.
The commander of the eight police officers was also ordered relieved.
Those sacked were policemen from La Loma Police Station 1, namely:
– Chief Inspector Joseph De Vera,
– Senior Inspector Oliver Villanueva,
– SPO1 Ramil Hachero,
– PO1 Mark de Paz,
– PO2 Ebonn Decatoria,
-PO2 Jerome Datinguinoo, and
– PO2 Weavin Masa
PO2 Jonathan Rodriguez, a member of the District Public Safety Battalion, was also relieved for participating in the gun-poking incident.
Of the eight policemen allegedly directly involved in the incident, only De Vera and Villanueva are under police custody. The six others remain at large after they failed to report for duty on Sunday.
In a Quezon City Police District report signed by Chief Superintendent Richard Albano, the commander of La Loma station Superintendent Osmundo de Guzman was also ordered relieved because of command responsibility.
Police also included in their manhunt operation a certain Police Inspector Estrera, allegedly a dismissed police officer reported to be involved in the abduction.
While all remain at large except for De Vera and Villanueva, the relieved policemen will be reassigned to the District Headquarters Support Unit pending the conduct of investigation and manhunt operation.
About five men were seen pointing their guns at a white sport utility vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner. This was caught on camera by a motorist who was passing that part of Edsa at that time. The witness uploaded the photo on Twitter on Sept. 1 and it instantly became viral. This has also prompted an investigation by the Philippine National Police.
On Monday morning, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II confirmed that one of the suspects has already been arrested.
Vehicles seen in the photo, a sedan with plate number ZJB 149 and a Hi-Ace Toyota van bearing plate number YF 9767, are now under the custody of the police.
Originally posted at 04:45 pm | September 8, 2014
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