DIRECTOR Benjamin Silo Jr. of the Police Regional Office 11 has ordered the relief of two Davao City Police Office (DCPO) police officers who were arrested Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a robbery incident in General Santos City.
Ordered relieved were CMS Renante Medina of the Foot Patrol and Bike Unit and MSg Christopher Ararao of Bunawan Police Station. The report from General Santos City said the two and two other civilians, Edwin Salvador and Winston Jay Ongco, were arrested as they were returning to Davao City on a private vehicle.
The two, aside from the criminal cases that they need to face as a result of their arrestd, will also face administrative cases even on an “automatic leave of absence.”
The regional police office said it was appalled by the involvement of the two police officers in a criminal activity as it “will not tolerate any personnel engaging in any acts of lawlessness or crimes.”
As a result of the incident, Col Alberto Lupaz, DCPO director, said the superiors of the two police officers – Major Milan Naz, station commander of Bunawan Police Station, and Major Mervin Montecillo, chief of the Foot Patrol and Bike Unit – have been relieved of their posts as the police station has been conducting an extensive investigation on the incident.
Lupaz, upon learning about the arrest of the two police officers, immediately sent a team to investigate their involvement. The team has yet to report its findings.
Major Catherine dela Rey, DCPO spokesperson, echoed the statement of the region, saying the city police director, will not tolerate anyone from its ranks if they committed criminal acts.
Dela Rey said the two “should undergo the due process of law” as the DCPO “will never condone personnel involved in criminal activities.
Based on the report, the two were arrested after a complainant identified them as among those who robbed her house in Purok Ondok Gawan, Barangay San Jose, General Santos City.
The complainant said the four seized from her mobile phones, other personal belongings and P165,000 in cash.
Aside from the belongings taken from the victim, the arresting personnel also seized from the suspects were two rifles, two .45 caliber pistols and two nine-millimeter pistols.
