SWAT vs rogue cops: 3 hurt

Three Pasig City policemen, accused of robbing a money courier, were wounded yesterday in a shootout with their fellow officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) that responded to a robbery alarm.

Senior Superintendent Raul Medina, Pasig City police chief, said SPO2 Rodolfo Molina and PO2 Lauro Hiyao sustained gunshot wounds in the body while PO1 Melvin Claveria was hit in the face and body.

The three, all assigned at the Pasig Police Community Precinct 19 in Barangay San Antonio, Pasig, were rushed to the Pasig City General Hospital for treatment.

Medina said the three are accused of robbing Angelito Reyes, 46, an employee of the Tabitha Money Changer.

Upon receiving the report on the incident, Metro police chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. ordered a thorough investigation.

"We will file criminal and administrative cases against the three policemen should evidence warrant it," Razon told The STAR as he vowed there would be no "whitewash" in the investigation of the case.

Medina said Reyes had just emerged from the United Coconut Planters Bank on Dr. Sixto Avenue in Barangay Kapasigan, Pasig at around 9:30 a.m. after changing P10,000 cash into P20 bills when his path was blocked by Claveria.

On board a motorcycle, Claveria pointed a gun at Reyes and ordered him to hand over the money.

When Reyes shouted for help, Claveria punched him in the face and grabbed the bag containing the cash.

Claveria then sped away, but his motorcycle hit a passenger jeepney so he ran toward a waiting blue Mitsubishi Mirage (NRE-962) with Hiyao and Molina on board.

Medina dispatched a SWAT team to the area after receiving the robbery report. After a brief chase, pursuing SWAT officers cornered the trio’s gateway car on Afable street in Barangay Sagad.

As the SWAT officers approached the car, they were met by gunfire coming from the vehicle’s occupants, prompting them to return fire.

Medina said they recovered a caliber .38 pistol used by Claveria in robbing Reyes and the two .9mm service firearms of the two other policemen.

Claveria yielded the P10,000 cash.

At the police station, Molina and Hiyao declined to comment on the incident, saying they would first speak to their lawyers.

Medina said he has ordered a background check on the three policemen.