CEBU, Philippines - An investigation is currently conducted on the three policemen accused by another policeman’s wife of stealing P300,000 and mobile phones from her.
Fuente Police Station chief Arnel Banzon requested the Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan to conduct the investigation on the policemen accused to find out what really happened.
Christine Uy-Solante, wife of PO3 Reynaldo Solante, has accused PO2 Marvin Sanson of Fuente Police, and SPO2 Rene Sultan as well as PO2 Clifford Mantua of the Mobile Patrol Group of stealing P300,000 cash and three cellular phones from their apartment.
The three cops reportedly went into the apartment of the Solante couple to check and get the gun after policemen stopped Christine’s car over a complaint that there was a high-powered firearm inside.
Sanson, in an interview with reporters yesterday, denied that they “forced Christine to let them go to her apartment and check for the weapon.”
He said that when Christine went with the cops at the Fuente Police Station, she gave them the consent to have a search on her apartment to check for the gun; this, after introducing herself as wife of Solante, assigned at the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
Sanson further said that when they went to the apartment and went upstairs, Christine guided them while he and SPO2 Sultan tailed her.
Sanson said that Christine opened a locker and handed over to him the Armalite rifle. After checking it and verifying that Christine is PO3 Solante’s wife, they then left the apartment.
However, they later learned that they were accused of stealing the said items and in fact, Christine sent a note to the Fuente Police saying: “I will sue you in court. I will hire the best lawyer in town.”
The cell phone numbers of Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Provincial Capitol consultant on security matters Byron Garcia were also written in the note, saying she has their numbers.
“Ok na man unta ‘to paglakaw namo gikan sa apartment. Wala gyo’y samok nga nahitabo adto ug wala gyod ko’y idea nga nasuko siya (Christine). Maayo ra man sad among treatment niya adto hasta sad siya diri namo,” Sanson said.
Though the incident embarrasses and, at the same time, hurts Sanson, he said he is willing to face the investigation.
“Sakit kaayo uy ‘nya mauwaw sad ‘ta. Miresponde ta sa best sa ato capability kay trabaho ra, ingon ana ra diay… Pero mas maayo na lang ni nga miresponde ‘ta nga gipasanginlan ‘ta kaysa wala ta miresponde ‘nya naa na sad mga dagkong tulis mahitabo,” he said.
PO3 Solante reportedly said that the M16 rifle had been issued to him for the PNP’s Annual General Inspection, but when he tested the gun, it malfunctioned.
He said he planned to return the firearm to the CCPO supply office, but he wanted to have it repaired first. He said the rifle was not openly displayed because it was placed inside a black case.
Solante said that because he was busy with the GI, he left the gun in his car and told his wife to bring it back to their apartment until he could have it fixed.
Christine reportedly went to a pension house near their apartment for breakfast. The security guard tipped off the police about the gun he saw. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (FREEMAN NEWS)