Ermita cops accused of robbing Saudi tourist

Four policemen detailed with the Ermita police station yesterday found themselves in hot water after they were accused by a Saudi Arabian tourist of allegedly robbing him the other night.

Ordered disarmed and placed under probe were PO1 Oliver Aluning, 27, PO1 Roger Romualdo, 27; PO1 Eduardo Robles, 32; and PO1 Edwin Jurilla. Of the suspects, only Jurilla is an organic member of the Ermita police station. Romualdo, Aluning and Robles are members of an augmentation force sent from the Cagayan Valley.

According to police reports, victim Abdulrahman Alhu-Edhi, 37, was aboard a taxicab and had just left the Pan Pacific hotel where he was billeted when he was stopped by Aluning, Romualdo and Jurilla, who were aboard prowl car number 3125 along Adriatico Street at about 9 p.m.

The policemen accused Alhu-Edhi of alleged possession of marijuana and asked that he accompany them to the Sta. Monica police station, the victim alleged that he was taken hostage by the policemen and was allegedly "mental tortured" to admit to the charge of drug possession.

Later, the suspects allegedly told him to produce $1,500 in order to be released. Investigators said the victim only managed to produce $200.

Later, Aluning and Danilo Gidoc, said to be a police asset, escorted Albu-Edhi out of the police station to change his traveler’s checks. However, as they found no currency exchange shop open at that time, Aluning and Gidoc brought the victim back to his hotel supposedly to get more cash from his wife.

Upon arrival at the hotel lobby, Alhu-Edhi started shouting and attracted the attention of hotel security guards who immediately came to his aide.

While under police custody, Gidoc and Aluning identified their cohorts. The four policemen and Gidot are now under the custody of the General Assignments Section of the Western Police District.

According to Superintendent Manolo Martinez, commander, of the Ermita Police Station, an investigation is now underway with the inclusion of Sta. Monica PCP commander Senior Inspector Linsley Pillejera in the probe for command responsibility.