Mandaluyong cop chief sacked

The commander of a police precinct in Mandaluyong City was sacked yesterday for his failure to solve last Monday’s P300,000 pawnshop robbery in his area of jurisdiction after 48 hours .

The sacking of Chief Inspector Godofredo Velasco, Mandaluyong City police Precinct 1 commander, came after three police operatives dispatched to arrest five members of the so-called "Martilyo Gang" came home empty-handed.

Chief Superintendent Simeon Dizon Jr., Eastern Police District (EPD) director replaced Velasco with Chief Inspector Erano Maranan, former head of the local police community relations unit.

Dizon said Velasco, who was attending a command conference when the robbers struck at the BHF Pawnshop and Jewelry store, will takeover Maranan’s former post.

Investigation showed that Velasco was concentrating his effort on shopping mall security, despite the waning threat from terrorist groups. "It appears that there were lapses in the deployment of policemen. (Velasco) was concentrating more on securing shopping malls," said Mandaluyong police chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles, explaining why Velasco’s men responded late, despite the pawnshop being only some 300 meters from the police detachment.

Gentiles said one of the five suspects, Juan Antonio, 30, an ex-Army soldier, was identified by witnesses in the police rogues gallery. Antonio is out on bail, also on robbery charges. – Non Alquitran