3 Manila cops charged for robbing Japanese

MANILA, Philippines - Three police officers of the Manila Police District (MPD) were charged yesterday for allegedly robbing a Japanese man in Malate on April 1.

Iwasaki Kinichi filed robbery charges against Police Officers 1 Benito Turaray and Vincent Paul Medina, and Police Officer 2 Reynaldo Olivo before the Makati City prosecutor’s office.

Superintendent Jaime Santos, Makati City police officer-in-charge, said Kinichi was smoking in a taxi when he was arrested and handcuffed for allegedly violating a city ordinance.

Kinichi was dragged into a light brown Toyota Revo (XEX-636), where he was robbed of his digital camera, video camera, necklace, P150,000, all placed inside his backpack.

“This is a case of hulidap. The police were even in their uniform when they robbed Kinichi,” said Santos.

The MPD policemen drove around until they reached a supermarket along P. Binay street in Makati and dropped Kinichi. The victim, meanwhile, went to the Makati police to report the incident.

A week later, Santos said investigators were tipped off that three police officers were behind the robbery. Investigators showed Kinichi their picture and he was able to identify them, Santos added.

Olivo and Medina were also previously charged for robbing two Koreans twice on April 7 and 10, Santos said.