Ex-cop has PNP contact in robbery?

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Intelligence Branch is now investigating if former police officer Antonio Aguisanda, who was arrested for robbery in Consolacion, was in cahoots with policemen who are still active in the service.

Superintendent Rodulfo Albotra, chief of Cebu Provincial Police Office’s PIB, said Aguisanda probably worked in connivance too with fellow ex-policemen, which they are also checking.

“We are conducting validation on that… We will also look into that angle,” he said.

Aguisanda is top two in PIB’s watchlist of robbers. With a rank of Police Officer 3, he was dismissed from the Philippine National Police service after he was charged for robbery extortion.  Albotra said Aguisanda, who was assigned as an operative while still with the PNP, served as the commander of the robbery group.

Prior to Aguisanda’s arrest, Albotra said they received information on people allegedly using the name of the PIB when supposedly operating against illegal activities in northern Cebu and extorting money from those arrested.

“Mga connected sa gambling and drugs (arrested persons) unya panakpon kay PIB lagi kuno sila unya buhian human og hatag og kwarta,” the PIB chief said.

PIB will be filing appropriate criminal charges against the former police officer before the prosecutor’s office.

Aguisanda’s elder brother, who is also a policeman, Chief Inspector Jimmy Aguisanda, said they were unaware of Antonio’s illegal activities, though the latter admitted to using illegal drugs.

“Naa’y report nga apil siya og mga illegal pero among gi-check kung unsa katinuod, pero ni-deny gyud siya,” Jimmy told The FREEMAN, adding that his brother used illegal drugs occasionally.

Jimmy said he even warned his brother once that shabu is still illegal even if he did not use it all the time.

Antonio was arrested in Barangay Lamac, Consolacion last Tuesday by virtue of a search warrant for robbery issued by Judge Teresita Galanida of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 56, Mandaue City.

Recovered from him were several packs of shabu worth P320,000, a cal. 45 pistol with 28 bullets and four magazines, drug paraphernalia, and P9,000 cash.

The suspect, for his part, denied involvement in last Monday’s heist but admitted to being involved in carnapping incidents in Consolacion. One of the victims was a councilman of barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City.  (FREEMAN)