MANILA, Philippines - Police officers from Manila Police District’s General Assignment Section (MPD-GAS) busted Friday a gang of pickpockets and snatchers preying on tourists in Ermita, Manila with the arrest of three of its alleged members.
Jenelyn Maadil, 25, and two minors aged 16 and 17 were arrested along Sta. Monica street Friday after Japanese tourist Kitasawa Kuzue complained that he was victimized by snatchers along M.H. del Pilar street.
The three suspects pointed to two police officers from MPD Station 5 as their protectors. They said they deliver the loot to the two policemen, who “take care of the proceeds.”
A former pickpocket told The STAR it is an “open secret” that certain policemen indeed protect petty criminals. “They usually tail their charge and when things go wrong, they come onto the scene and would do the arrest. Minutes later you would see the same people back on the street,” the source said in Filipino.
MPD director Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez said he learned of the arrest of the two policemen on Saturday and had them immediately investigated. The two were charged with violating the anti-human trafficking law in relation to the law on child abuse.
“We are not tolerating ‘bad eggs’ in our midst. The two involved policemen are now under custodial investigation in preparation for their inquest. People like these are not fit to be in the service one minute longer,” Gutierrez said.
He, however, begged off from naming the two police officers pending the outcome of the investigation.