Cop gets 10 years for robbing Olongapo chief prosecutor

A Manila City court sentenced an erring policeman to 10 years’ imprisonment Tuesday for robbing Olongapo Chief Prosecutor Prudencio Jalandoni, who at one time handled the controversial Subic rape case.

Manila City Regional Trial Court (MCRTC) Branch 3 Judge Antonio de Castro said Police Officer 1 Edwin Roma robbed Jalandoni at gunpoint.

Jalandoni was the one who first handled the prosecution of United States Marines Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, Dominic Duplantis and Chad Carpentier for allegedly raping 22-year-old “Nicole” last Nov. 1, 2005 at the Subic Free Port. Only Smith was convicted by a Makati court.

De Castro also ordered Roma, who remains at large after jumping bail, to pay Jalandoni P30,000, the value of the necklace he stole from Jalandoni.

Court records showed that at 6 a.m. of Feb. 27, 2005, Jalandoni was crossing a street near his house in Sta. Mesa, Manila when a heavily tinted vehicle passed by.

A backseat passenger opened the car window and inquired where a mechanic named Eddie resided. When Jalandoni pointed toward Guadacanal street, Roma and a still unidentified suspect came up behind him and poked him with nine-millimeter handguns. They then grabbed his gold necklace that has a crucifix pendant and boarded the vehicle.

Jalandoni picked up a stone and hurled it at the vehicle as it sped away. Roma fired at the victim but did not hit him.

Jalandoni reported the incident to the Sta. Mesa police station, where he identified Roma from a gallery.

Sometime last March, Roma was arrested in connection with another robbery. Jalandoni then proceeded to the Manila Police District and identified Roma from a police lineup.