Cop tagged in Pasig payroll heist

A policeman assigned at the Eastern Police District (EPD) was arrested over the weekend for his alleged involvement in last Friday’s P400,000 payroll robbery that left the vice president of a candy factory wounded in Pasig City.

Reports reaching the office of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol identified the suspect as PO2 Joel Palec of the Crowd Disturbance Management (CDM) unit based at the EPD annex building on Meralco Avenue.

Palec was positively identified by a security guard as one of the four motorcycle-riding men who grabbed the payroll money from Fernando Sy, 59, as he stepped out of his car in front of his office on Brixton street in Barangay Kapitolyo last Friday noon.

The suspects opened fire at Sy, hitting him in the body and leg.

Palec was identified by the security guard through police photos.

Querol said the officer was arrested at 2 a.m. last Saturday at his house in Villa Raymundo, Barangay Palatiw. He gave up peacefully.

It was not clear whether the arresting team recovered part of the loot or any other evidence.

The suspect is now undergoing tactical interrogation, according to a Pasig police official.

Sy, a resident of Valle Verde VI in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, was stepping out of his Toyota Camry when he was robbed by four suspects riding tandem on two motorcycles.

Querol said Sy has just withdrawn P400,000 from a bank.

The suspects fled after taking the cash, but a security guard managed to take a good look at their faces. – Non Alquitran