Aklan cop loses bag, gun, papers for his promotion

A 39-year-old police official from Aklan province came to Cebu a few days ago to file for his rank promotion but left instead his bag, containing his service firearm and documents, in a taxi Wednesday afternoon.

Inspector Reynaldo Dalida Francisco took a taxi with three other Region 6 police officials on their way to the Regional Human Resources Development Division of the Police Regional Office-7 at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. along Osmeña Boulevard.

Upon reaching the camp, they alighted but the taxi reportedly sped off before Francisco could get his knapsack from the luggage compartment of the vehicle. He also failed to get the plate number of the taxi, which he remembered only as "842" but without the prefix letters.

The City Police theft and robbery section said Francisco is a native of Rodriguez town in Rizal province but is now assigned as intelligence officer of the Aklan Provincial Police Office.

The police said Francisco left his light green and black bag containing his .45 caliber service pistol with serial number BA04477, three magazines with 21 live bullets, a pair of black shoes, and original copies of his complete documents for his application for rank promotion.

Francisco arrived here few days ago supposedly to complete the requirements of his promotion to the rank of Senior Inspector. He was with three other Inspectors that went to the PNP Regional Health Service-7 for their neurological and drug tests.

Francisco, who has since then already returned to Aklan, had appealed to the taxi driver or anybody who might have found his bag to return it to the nearest police station. - Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE