Precinct chief axed after Pasay cops got tagged in P1-M heist

The immediate superior of the three Pasay City policemen being linked to a P1-million robbery has been relieved of his post.

Chief Insp. Eric Angustia was removed as chief of the Central Park Police Community Precinct 5 (PCP 5) pending the results of an investigation “to determine his administrative liability,” National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said on Saturday.

Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, chief of the Pasay City police, said he was the one who ordered the relief of Angustia following reports that three of his men were tagged in the robbery that targeted an office messenger who was then en route to the bank on Nov. 6.

“Since [Angustia’s] men are reportedly involved, that’s what we do. This is about command responsibility,” Reyes told the Inquirer. Insp. Jose Mari Calimag Jasmin was named officer in charge of PCP 5.

PO1 Alas Soliman, PO1 Ronald Villanueva and PO2 Mark Manguera, along with Limuel Camposagrado, Alexander Pantoja and a man known only as Arnel, were named  suspects in the heist pulled off at the corner of Macapagal Avenue and Buendia Extension.

The messenger, Jeffrey Rabe, was then on his way to deposit P1,002,931 in cash for Senubi Travel & Tours Co., when armed men held him at gunpoint and snatched the bag containing the money.

Responding policemen first arrested Camposagrado and Pantoja. A followup operation led to the arrest of Soliman, a Valenzuela City resident, who was caught on a security-camera video running away from the crime scene together with the other suspects.

Villanueva became a suspect after investigators learned that the gun Pantoja used was registered to him. He was arrested in General Trias, Cavite province.

Manguera and Arnel remain at large. Kristine Felisse Mangunay