2 cop-brothers tagged in Misamis Oriental robbery

Shootout. (RADYO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The police in Northern Mindanao will investigate the armed robbery, allegedly perpetrated by two police officers, in a store in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Sunday.

Investigators identified those who allegedly carried out the robbery as PO1 Nirilvan Tañajura and his elder brother PO1 Whylder Tañajura.

Nirilvan, an officer at the Gingoog city police, was shot dead following a shootout with one of the store’s workers.

Whylder, reported to be currently undergoing the Philippine National Police (PNP) scout training at the Regional Public Safety Battalion in Region 10, was apprehended by the elements of the Tagoloan town police.

In a statement Monday, the regional police command said it did not, and would not condone illegal acts by its police officers.

“The PNP does not and will never tolerate any of its personnel involved in criminal activities; may it be petty or serious in nature. That is also why we continue to implement our internal cleansing drive and encourage our unit commanders to exercise their disciplinary powers delegated to them by the law,” Supt. Surki Sereñas, regional police spokesperson, said in the statement.

Sereñas said last Sunday’s bloody clash was a serious matter that must be looked into. “Rest assured an in-depth investigation will be undertaken and certainly criminal and administrative charges against all responsible individuals will be forthcoming.”

He said that while the PNP sympathized with the family of the slain law enforcer, “we find relief and consolation in the thought that we have eliminated some crooked personnel within our ranks. Weeding out the undesirable among us will not be easy, but we have to do it for the greater good.”

Senior Supt. Manuel Sukarno Alvarez, Misamis Oriental provincial police chief, said appropriate charges would be filed against Whylder.  SFM