7 WPD cops face robbery charges

The Deputy Ombudsman found probable cause to indict seven police officers for robbing a couple of some P210,000 in cash and valuables during a buy-bust operation seven months ago.

Charged with robbery, slight physical injuries and trespassing were SPO2 Reynaldo Rayo, SPO1 Alfredo Morante, PO2 Francisco Manago, P02 Rizalde Liangco, PO1 Leonardo Alejandrino, PO1 Melany Amata and PO2 Leonard Cipriano. All the suspects were assigned at the Western Police District-Drug Enforcement Group (WPD-DEG).

"Sufficient grounds exist to indict the respondents of the crimes being charged, "Ombudsman Prosecutor Marifi Chua said in a two-page order.

Initial investigation conducted by the WPD-General Assignment Section showed the policemen robbed the complainants Abdullah Ampatua and his pregnant wife Raisahlam on Sept. 3.

Ampatua said he was standing in front of his house at the Islamin Center, San Miguel, Manila when Manago approached him and told him about a standing warrant of arrest for him.

Without showing the arrest order, Manago and two other policemen frisked Ampatua. The other suspect-policemen forcibly entered their house and took all their valuables, a .45 caliber pistol, a shotgun, two cellular phones and P13,000 cash.

For their part, the policemen denied the charges and claimed the Sept. 3 operation was a legitimate buy-bust operation.

The policemen said Rayo acted as a poseur-buyer, who managed to buy some five grams of shabu for P3,000, while the other suspect-policemen served as back-up. – Cecille Suerte Felipe