Police officer, civilians face multiple raps in South Cotabato town

KORONADAL CITY—The South Cotabato police said it has filed multiple charges against a police officer and 10 civilians, who were caught harvesting and hauling pineapples inside a plantation owned by a multi-national firm in Polomolok town last Monday.

Senior Supt. Jose Briones, South Cotabato police director, said PO3 Edwin Tabamo, a police officer assigned with the Central Mindanao Police Office (PRO-12) in Gen. Santos City, and the other suspects now face charges of robbery, illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs.

Briones said the suspects were caught in the act of harvesting and hauling pineapples from the Dole Philippines plantation in Barangay (village) Palkan, using a van with license plate QHW 401, after security personnel notified police about their presence there.

He said when police physically inspected the van, they found several firearms, including two shotguns, prohibited drugs and bundles of freshly harvested pineapples.

Aside from Tabamo, others who were arrested and charged were Ronnie Seba Jr., his brother Renato Tabamo, Joel Apitoong, Marvin Suarez, Sandy, Joey and Ian— all surnamed Arostique, Joan Tamayo, Quinton Mahusay, and Boyet Agustin.

“They are being detained at the Polomolok lockup cell,” Briones said.

Aside from criminal charges, he said that the policeman had also been administratively charged. RAM

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