44 SPD cops in condo raid axed

Over missing P27 million, procedural lapses

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-four personnel of the Southern Police District (SPD) have been removed from their posts over alleged anomalies in a raid on a condominium in Parañaque City on Sept. 16.

The 44 police officers were subjected to pre-charge investigation and face charges of grave irregularities in the performance of duty due to alleged “procedural lapses,” according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas.

“The pre-charge investigation is ongoing and that is where we will determine the specific charges that will be filed against them depending on their answers and the result of the investigation,” Salas told The STAR in a text message.

Salas said 27 of the 44 police officers were transferred to the NCRPO’s regional personnel holding and accounting section while 17 were placed under the SPD’s personnel holding and accounting section.

Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano was transferred to the office of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. and replaced as SPD director by Brig. Gen. Mark Pespes, former director of the PNP headquarters support service.

The transfers stemmed from a raid on Parksuites Condominium, during which the SPD personnel served search warrants on charges of illegal possession of firearms and human trafficking.

The SPD reported that 11 Chinese and a Filipino were arrested, several Chinese were rescued and P4.6 million in cash had been confiscated.

However, the NCRPO said there were alleged irregularities in the serving of the search warrants and the arrested Chinese claim that P27 million stashed in a vault was missing.

NCRPO chief Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered an investigation of alleged anomalies during the raid.

In a seven-page report, NCRPO Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division chief Col. Noel Fermin recommended the filing of grave neglect of duty, serious irregularity in the performance of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer against all police officers involved in the Sept. 16 raid.

Fermin also recommended the filing of charges against 25 other police officers from the SPD’s women’s desk, tactical motorcycle riding unit, special weapons and tactics unit and the Tambo sub-station of the Parañaque police.