Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the Internal Affairs Service to conduct a separate investigation into an alleged P14 million robbery by five police officers in Pampanga.
Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO 3) relieved the officers last Tuesday while its own investigation was ongoing, after members of Angeles City Police Station 2 reported them through an unsigned letter.
In a statement on Friday, Nartatez said he tasked the PNP Internal Affairs Service to conduct a parallel investigation into the alleged robbery.
‘There will be an investigation, and I want this done as soon as possible,’ Nartatez said.
‘If the investigation finds them liable, I assure our fellow citizens that all of them will not only be dismissed from the service but will also go straight to jail,’ he added.
The alleged robbery occurred on Nov. 25 at the victim’s home in Barangay Santa Cruz, Porac, Pampanga. The victim, her family, and her guests were reportedly forced into a comfort room while the officers took the cash.
PRO 3 Director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. told reporters in a phone interview on Friday that the regional police will file criminal and administrative cases against the officers allegedly involved.
The officers implicated include a police major, a police corporal, and two police staff sergeants assigned to Angeles City Police Station 2, as well as another police corporal assigned to the Zambales Provincial Police Office.