Bulacan cops probe case of 5 ‘robbers in uniform’

MALOLOS CITY — A few days after three police officers were charged for kidnapping, the Bulacan police is now investigating the case of five "robbers in uniform" who ransacked a fireworks store in San Miguel town last Tuesday.

Superintendent Sheldon Jacaban, head of the investigation and intelligence branch of the provincial police, said they now have the artist’s sketches of the five suspected police officers.

"We are now in the process of identifying them," he told The STAR. 

Based on a police report, five armed men wearing black camouflage SWAT and blue camouflage police uniforms ransacked the Ercy Fireworks store owned by one Ercylinda Rivera in Barangay Old Sta. Rita, San Miguel town at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Store helpers Wheeliam Padilla and Willie Rodriguez told the police that the five men pointed their guns at them and then ransacked the store of fireworks worth P150,000.

The robbers also took the store helpers’ cash amounting to P4,500 and a Nokia cellular phone before fleeing toward Baliuag town on board a white Isuzu pick-up truck with license plate VCF-643.

Upon verification with the Land Transportation Office, Superintendent Rommel Salac, San Miguel police chief, said they found that the license plate was registered to a Toyota Hi Ace owned by a certain Vicente Escalante of Lipa City, Batangas.

Earlier, the Marilao police arrested three police officers for alleged kidnapping. 

Meanwhile, the provincial police is keeping a tight watch on pyrotechnics manufacturers and dealers in the province to prevent abuses during the holiday season. 

Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, officer-in-charge of the provincial police, called on other law enforcement agencies to coordinate with them when operating against illegal pyrotechnics manufacturers and dealers in Bulacan to avoid confusion.

He said police units have been ordered to monitor the situation, especially in the towns of Sta. Maria, Bocaue, Balagtas, Baliuag and San Rafael, where pyrotechnic products are traditionally made.

Fireworks manufacturers in the towns of Bulacan, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Guiguinto, Angat, and Norzagaray are also being watched.

Gatchalian said they are also monitoring the possible influx of imported pyrotechnic products.