Rogue cop on PNP watchlist caught in QC

The Quezon City Police District recently arrested a former policeman who is on a watch list of “rogue cops” for his alleged involvement in a string of robbery cases in the vicinity of Tomas Morato Avenue.  

Jerubabel Alba, 34, who was dismissed from the service last October, was arrested by police officers of the QCPD-Station 10 Monday night after he staged another robbery in Barangay Pinyahan.

QCPD-Station 10 commander Superintendent Aspirinio Cabula said the police have been searching for Alba, who allegedly has been staging robberies along with another dismissed policeman.

“He (Alba) is included in the rogue cops’ watch list of the (QCPD’s) DID (District Intelligence Division) and the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office),” Cabula said in an interview.

According to Cabula, Alba – who used to be assigned with QCPD-Station 9 and held the rank of Police Officer 1 – was dismissed for “grave misconduct.”

Cabula said that while it was not officially established, Alba was linked to several robbery cases while he was still in the police force.

When he was dismissed last year, Alba was charged with malversation of government property when he did not return his .9mm service firearm.

At around 7:30 p.m. last Monday, Alba robbed Leony Cuesta at gunpoint and took her cell phone, an Ipod and P500. A man and a woman tried to help the victim, but Alba fired his gun into the air, prompting all three to run away.

The three sought help from two patrolling policemen, who eventually apprehended the suspect. Investigators found two spent shells from a .9mm handgun at the crime scene.

After the police questioned Alba, the police recovered the missing firearm from his house in Antipolo, Rizal, Cabula said.       – Reinir Padua