“Robber” cop falls

CEBU, Philippines - The policeman being held responsible for a string of robberies was arrested in a joint operation by the Cebu Intelligence Branch and Cebu City Public Safety Company of the Cebu City Police Office in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City around 2:30 p.m. last Monday.

Police Officer 2 Ronilo Manuel was arrested by policemen who came with a warrant of arrest for robbery issued by Judge Alexander Acosta of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, for allegedly robbing a cabbie last February 2. 

The former policeman, together with his friend, Benito Andres Abear, allegedly robbed Ronald Mabutas. Mabutas showed up at the Fuente Police Station after the media reported that the two suspects had been involved in another robbery and claimed he was also victimized by the two.

The two reportedly boarded his taxi in Barangay Duljo-Fatima and when they reached Talamban, Manuel suddenly held a knife against him while Abear choked him. They took his earnings amounting to P1,800 and the keys of his cab.

Around 3:35 a.m. on February 12 Manuel and Abear also allegedly robbed P12,300 from Rachel Cuico who was waiting for a ride along R. Landon Street, Cebu City.

 Elements of the Fuente Police Station were able to arrest the two after a hot pursuit operation. Cuico positively identified Manuel as the one who robbed her and a robbery case was eventually filed against them. However, Manuel was able to post bail while Abear is still in jail.

 Last February 20, an administrative complaint of grave misconduct was filed against Manuel with a recommended maximum penalty of dismissal from service.

Arrest

Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, head of the City Intelligence Branch, said that before his arrest last Monday, a colleague of Manuel told the police that he saw Manuel in Barangay Labangon. 

Santander said Manuel happened upon several of his police batchmates and they started talking. One of them knew Manuel was a wanted man and was able to surreptitiously text his superiors that Manuel was with them at that instant. The batchmates were ordered to keep Manuel occupied while the CIB sent men to arrest him.

He did not resist arrest when the other policemen came to get him.

Manuel was previously assigned to the Cebu City Public Safety Battalion before going absent without official leave.

CCPO director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana earlier tagged Manuel and Eugene Salingay, a dismissed policeman from Oroquieta City, as the ones responsible for the robbery of the Western Union outlet in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Guadalupe, last Thursday.

Tellers of the money remittance branch positively identified Salingay as one of the robbers. Romana said that Manuel could have been the contact of Salingay in Cebu and assigned a certain “Paopao” to accompany Salingay during the robbery.

Romana added Manuel was hesitant in giving information to the police about Paopao, only saying that they allegedly met in a drug den.

 “Kun muingon ka nga bag-o ra sila nagkita ni Paopao, how come nagkuyog dayon sila sa series of illegal activities? In-ana na sila kasuod dayon kun bag-o pa sila nagkaila,” he said.

Shabu user?

Santander also confirmed that Manuel is a drug user.

 The police yesterday morning discovered a YouTube video titled “PO2 RONELO MANUEL (as boy higop BATO)” showing a shirtless Manuel sniffing shabu. The said video was uploaded by a certain Mengel Zafra.

But police have not determined if he also sells drugs.

 When asked who uploaded his video during his presentation to the media yesterday, Manuel said it was his girlfriend.

 Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas said he was sad a few bad policemen are tarnishing the reputation of the entire organization.   —/BRP (FREEMAN)