MPD official OK’d illegal raid
By Nestor Etolle
Sunday, December 2, 2007 Contrary to his earlier claims, the chief of the Balut, Tondo police station in Manila was aware and had apparently sanctioned a raid conducted by 18 of his police officers who allegedly robbed a Chinese-Filipino businessman of P2.1 million Thursday, according to the initial results of an ongoing investigation by the Manila Police District (MPD).
Businessman Venson Tan Bangayan said that when he confronted the policemen who barged into his house, they told him that their operation was in compliance with a directive by Balut police station chief Superintendent Rolando Miranda.
A certain “Sergeant Abrogar,” an official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) based in Caloocan City, who was with Bangayan at the time, reportedly called up Miranda, who confirmed that the members of the raiding team were his men.
Earlier, Miranda told The STAR that he was not aware of the reported illicit activities of his men, saying he was on leave at the time the alleged robbery was committed.
Sources revealed that Miranda has instructed the 18 policemen involved not to appear at the ongoing investigation, and just wait for the charges to be filed.
MPD General Assignment Section chief Superintendent Ernesto Barlam, whose unit is investigating the case, said Bangayan is set to identify the policemen involved in the alleged robbery tomorrow.
One of the policemen linked to the heist expressed his intention to identify four of his colleagues as the culprits to clear the names of the others.
Bangayan filed a complaint at the MPD after finding out that he was missing jewelry worth P100,000 and P2 million following the raid by the 18 policemen, who told him they were “responding to a call from a concerned citizen.”
MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales has ordered an impartial investigation into the allegation to ferret out the real culprits.
Rosales said no police officer is considered on leave when there is a red alert, which was declared last Thursday during a hotel siege in Makati City by renegade soldiers.