Arrested moonlighting cops also suspects in shooting at teens

CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Philippines — The four policemen, who were arrested on May 6 for moonlighting as security guards of a Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT) town candidate, turned out to be the same policemen facing attempted homicide charges for firing at teenagers in March.

SPO4 Gerald Ruiz, P03 Arnais Aguilar, P02 Emmanuel Carlos and P01 John Merle were relieved to address the charges filed by the families of 4 teens, aged 13 to 18, after they shot at the teens’ vehicle in San Miguel town on March 31.

The policemen claimed they mistook the teens for drug suspects.

The four policemen were detained along with four other people by supporters of DRT Vice Mayor Hilario Cruz, for wielding three M-16 rifles and two caliber .45 pistols.

READ: 4 Bulacan cops charged for moonlighting as bet’s bodyguards

But the Bulacan police office claimed that the four policemen were undertaking a legitimate surveillance operation when they were caught.

The detained cops are assigned to the Provincial Holding Administration Unit (PHAU), but were supposedly in DRT to verify reports of armed men serving as guns for hire in the area. DRT is an election hotspot.

“It was a legitimate operation, but then during the course of the operation, there were operational lapses on their part, regarding the performance of their duties,” said Senior Insp. Lynelle Solomon, Bulacan police information officer.

Solomon said the relieved policemen were deployed because most of Bulacan’s police force have been tasked to handle security duties for the election.