Mandaluyong cop promoted for battling 4 bus robbers

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao promoted yesterday to the next rank a Mandaluyong City policeman who took on four bus robbers yesterday.

Lomibao pinned the Police Officer 3 (PO3) chevron on the uniform of PO2 Desililo Custodio during a ceremony attended by Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol, Mandaluyong City police chief Superintendent Ericson Velasquez and ranking PNP and Eastern Police District (EPD) officials. Also on hand was the officer’s wife, Riza.

The PNP chief hailed Custodio for his gallantry, which resulted in the killing of two robbers and the wounding of another during a robbery inside a bus in Pasay City.

"He risked his life to protect the riding public against criminals. The entire PNP and the whole Philippines is very proud of you," Lomibao said.

The PNP chief rushed to Mandaluyong City after arriving at the domestic airport in Pasay City from Agusan del Sur, where he also honored five policemen for successfully defending their police station against 100 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

He admitted that while there are few bad cops in the PNP, there are also heroes like the five Agusan policemen and Custodio, "who are dedicated to their sworn duties to protect and serve the public."

"May the action of the five policemen and Custodio inspire other officers," Lomibao said.

The PNP chief handed over to Custodio a P10,000 check, a token from Ricardo Co and Ricardo Cosing, president and manager, respectively, of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

Custodio was on his way to report to Police Community Precinct 4 located near the EDSA-Crossing flyover in Barangay Wack-Wack when four suspects, armed with bladed weapons, announced a heist inside the Saint Benedict bus at about 3:15 a.m.

While the suspects where divesting the passengers of their cash and personal belongings, Custodio, who was in civilian clothes and seated at the back of the vehicle, pulled out his caliber 9mm pistol and opened fire at one of the suspects.

The suspect, who was standing in front of him, was shot in the head.

Another suspect rushed to the aid of his cohort, but Custodio shot him twice in the body. He died on his way to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

A third suspect was shot in the abdomen, but he managed to flee with his cohort.

Velasquez said Custodio became the third member of the police force to neutralize robbers during an encounter inside a passenger bus.

SPO2 Virgilio Reyes killed three robbers in a shootout during a bus robbery at the South Superhighway several years ago while SPO2 Charlito Corpuz neutralized two others in a separate incident last year.

Corpuz is now the liaison officer of the local police after his hand was disfigured in the gunfight.

Velasquez brought to Lomibao’s attention yesterday the non-adjustment of Corpuz’s salary despite his promotion during the term of then PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

"I will work on it," Lomibao said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rhodina Villanueva