Ebdane told: Get ‘rascals in uniform’

President Arroyo ordered Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday to go after "rascals in uniforms."

During her visit to Camp Crame in Quezon City, Mrs. Arroyo learned from Ebdane that three dismissed soldiers were among the five suspected car thieves who were killed in a shootout with police in Hagonoy, Bulacan last Wednesday.

Ebdane told the President that the Veloso Gang, of which the dismissed soldiers were members, was also engaged in kidnappings and bank robberies in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog.

Mrs. Arroyo said she told Ebdane to immediately identify policemen and soldiers, whom she described as "rascals," and gather enough evidence to pin them down in court.

"We must know who these people are, so we can complete the evidence and charge them in court and they can be removed from the service," she said.

"I ordered General Ebdane to pinpoint these rascals in uniform, whether currently in uniform, formerly in uniform, or (absent without leave)."

In response, Ebdane said he has ordered the police draw up a "specific order of battle" for what he described as "scalawags in uniform."

In a report to Mrs. Arroyo, PNP intelligence director Chief Superintendent Robert Delfin said the Veloso Gang was behind the kidnapping of a foreigner last year.

Killed in last Wednesday’s shootout between police and the Veloso Gang were Rosendo Veloso and Aurelio Pacitas, dismissed Marines; Army Sgt. Junior Doctor; Pablito Salubod, alias "Big Boy;" and a certain Pabling. – Jaime Laude