2 cops probed for robbing, shooting at guard

Two Muntinlupa City policemen are in hot water after a security guard accused them of robbing and firing their guns at him at a checkpoint in the city last May 25.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is investigating a complaint by security guard Rhecy Solomon against Police Officer 3 Manuel Oriente and PO1 Rodelio Villanueva, both assigned at the Mobile Patrol Unit of the Muntinlupa City police.

“We are presently in the process of thoroughly verifying the complaint of the security guard because one of the suspects denied the charges against them,” said Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, head of the CIDG National Capital Region (NCR).

In his complaint, Solomon – a resident of Pulang Lupa, Las Piñas City – said he was driving a Honda motorcycle when Oriente and Villanueva, in a patrol car, flagged him down at a checkpoint along Barangay Bayanan at 2:30 a.m. last May 25.

The policemen asked him why he was not wearing a prescribed helmet, Solomon said.

While he was trying to explain his side, Solomon claimed the two policemen dragged him into the patrol car. They then took his Nokia 3315 cell phone and P1,400 and threatened to “kill” him.

The policemen drove off towards the city proper but stopped in front of a vulcanizing shop. Solomon said he was ordered to strip off his clothes, get out of the vehicle and run “for his life.”

According to Solomon, he was running away when shots were fired in his direction. Velasquez said Solomon identified Oriente and Villanueva through their personal data sheets at the Muntinlupa City police.

Accompanied by Muntinlupa City mobile patrol chief Senior Inspector Ernesto Eco, Villanueva turned over Solomon’s Honda motorcycle, owned by the Blazing Star security agency, to CIDG investigators. Oriente is allegedly on an official leave of absence.

Villanueva admitted flagging down Solomon but claimed he dove into a creek to escape while they were parked at a vulcanizing shop to repair a flat tire of the motorcycle.

According to Velasquez, they are still determining the charges to be filed against Oriente and Villanueva.