Cop probed for helping alleged shoplifter escape

MANILA, Philippines -  A Manila policeman is under investigation for allegedly helping an alleged shoplifter escape from the security guards of SM department store in Carriedo last June 16, an official said yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Arnel Olguera was identified by SM security guard Cris Paulo Igama as the man who forcibly took Richelle Nisola, 31, from their custody as they were on their way to Manila Police District Station 3, according to MPD officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Robert Po.

Olguera belongs to MPD Station 1 in Balut, Tondo.

Igama said he accosted Nisola as she was leaving the department store with P5,000 worth of items she had not paid for. Nisola presented her Philippine College of Criminology student identification card and told SM in-house investigators that her husband is a police officer.

Igama told Senior Police Officer 1 James Poso that he and a female guard had taken Nisola to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for a medical examination before turning her over to police custody.

They were on their way to MPD Station 3 at around 7 p.m. when Olguera, in police uniform and riding a black FX taxi, and another policeman on a motorcycle arrived and took Nisola away from them.

Po ordered the filing of obstruction of justice charges against Olguera and told investigators to immediately identify the other policeman involved in the incident.