EIGHT members of the Anti-Organized Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) may face possible dismissal from service and even jail time.
This came out after the group was arrested by their own colleagues in the CIDG for their involvement in the robbery and kidnapping of seven Chinese nationals and one Filipino in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The CIDG Angeles City Field Unit identified the arrested police personnel as P/Maj. Ferdinand Mendoza, PSSgt. Mark Anthony Iral, PSSgt. Sanny Ric Alicante, PCpl. John Gervic Fajardo, PCpl. Kenneth Rheiner Delfin, Pat. Leandro Mangale and Pat. Hermogines Rosario Jr.
Aside from the eight policemen, also arrested were one Filipino and two Chinese nationals.
It was learned that when operatives of CIDG Angeles conducted an operation in a residential compound located in Brgy. Balibago about an ongoing robbery-kidnapping in the area, they saw the members of CIDG-Crame. The group insisted that they were conducting a buy-bust operation in the same area for hidden firearms, which was later proven to be false.
The CIDG Angeles group were able to rescue seven Chinese nationals and one Filipino, whom the CIDG-Crame group would not allow to leave the compound.
When they conducted a search on the vehicles used by the CIDG-Crame group, seized were some items that belong to the rescued Chinese, money amounting to P300,000 and an undetermined amount of US Dollar bills.
The suspects are now under the custody of CIDG Angeles and charges are now being prepared against them.