MANILA — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Anthony Aberin visited the Eastern Police District (EPD), a week after the anomalous operation of EPD Special Operations Unit (SOU).

Aberin reminded officials to follow Police Operation Procedure.  

On April 2, eight police officers of the EPD SOU allegedly stole around P85 million from a Chinese businessman in Las Piñas. The incident led to the removal of 31 personnel from their posts, including the police chief.

The eight involved officers and their chief are facing charges of unlawful arrests, robbery, serious illegal detention and kidnapping.

31 cops sacked over robbery of Chinese businessman in Las Piñas

Among those who were relieved was EPD director Police Brigadier General Villamor Tuliao.  NCRPO continued to backtrack the investigation as Aberin ordered an in-depth probe.

An administrative case against the involved officers is also underway at the Regional Internal Affairs Service. Their phones will undergo an investigation as well.

“Tignan nila baka mamaya hindi lang yung walo ang talagang involved, baka may mga iba pang kasama na di nakalista doon sa walong iyon, sooner makikita natin kung talagang may kasama and lahat ng cellphone nila it was confiscated, it will be subjected to technical analysis and we will be applying for warrant to disclose computer data para mabuksan natin ng legal yung mga cellphone nila,” Aberin said.

Aberin stressed that if they can gather evidence pointing to a much higher official, they will not be spared. 

“Pag meron hindi natin ito-tolerate at hindi natin palalagpasin, we will include them on the charges, they will be included in the charges, kasi nga kasama sila sa kalokohan na ginawa, why set them free,” he said.

EPD-DSOU chief remains at large, may be served arrest warrant— NCRPO 

“We don’t tolerate these things, kaya nga pinaimbestigahan natin lahat ng personnel involved to include of course ang pinakamataas na pinaimbestighan natin yung district director pinaimbestighan natin,” he added. 

The head of DSOU, meanwhile, remains at large and is now marked as AWOL (absence without leave) by NCRPO.

“We have issued return to work order, inihatid natin yan sa place of residence niya sa probinsya and hopefully one of these days lumutang na siya para at least to shed light on what happened,” Aberin explained. 

“I heard nagpapadala ng feelers na lulutang siya,” he continued.

Due to the incident, Aberin ordered the removal of officers with pending grave misconduct cases from operating units like DSOU. 

“Kung may kaso ka robbery extortion and the like dapat wala ka na sa operating unit, ilagay ka sa admin, ilagay ka sa support unit para kahit paano namomonitor ka ano ginagawa, hindi ka na dapat binibigyan ng sensitive na trabaho para di ka na makapambiktima sa mga masasamang gawain,” Aberin mentioned.

8 cops face multiple raps over 'unlawful arrest' of businessman in Las Piñas 

The NCRPO chief has ordered a stiffer screening for police who would be assigned in DSOU.

“Sa DSOU we will screen them, talagang magkakaroon ng vetting process,” Aberin said.