Five cops return bag with P1.7 M

Five Manila policemen who returned a bag containing more than P1.7 million from a foiled robbery attempt on a local shipping line will be honored in today’s flag-raising ceremonies at the Western Police District (WPD) headquarters.

The five honest cops, all operatives of the WPD’s Homicide Section, found the bag during a crime scene investigation of a robbery holdup atop the southbound lane of Del Pan Bridge in Intramuros, Manila last month. The bag contained the money intended for deposit by representatives of Gothong Shipping Lines.

"For having displayed impeccable honesty and integrity beyond reproach during a crime scene investigation of two robbery holdup suspects leading to the recovery of the loot, it is just appropriate to commend the honest cops of this district," WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said.

The five policemen were Homicide Section chief Senior Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr., SPO2 Edgardo Paterno, SPOs1 Richard Lumbad and Gener Presnedi and PO2 Loreto Quejada.

Aside from the cash, the cops also recovered two cellular phones and other important documents from the robbers.

Last May 30, the five police operatives responded to a reported robbery holdup of a vehicle of Carlos Gothong shipping line atop Del Pan Bridge.

Company representatives on board the vehicle were on their way to a bank to deposit the money when they were blocked by the suspects’ car and at gunpoint grabbed the bag containing the P1.7 million.

Operatives of the National Capital Region’s Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (NCR-PACER), who were on surveillance operation in the area, spotted the commotion and a brief firefight ensued. Two suspects, identified as Jeffrey Tamba and Jocel Elmibulan, were instantly killed in the shootout.