3 Pasig cops dismissed from service

Three policemen who were arrested shortly after robbing an employee of a money changing shop in Pasig City the other day, were ordered dismissed from service yesterday.

Ordered sacked were Police Officers 2 Rodolfo Molina and Lazaro Hiyao and PO1 Melvin Claveria, all assigned at the Police Community Precinct 19 in San Antonio, Pasig.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao also directed Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela to personally oversee the filing of criminal charges against the three officers.

Following a brief firefight, the three were cornered by a Pasig City SWAT team responding to a robbery alarm.

Claveria was hit in the face during the exchange.

"The three have been ordered dismissed immediately from the service by the chief PNP," PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said.

The three had robbed Angelito Reyes, 56, an employee of the Tabitha Money Changer, a few meters away from the Pasig City police headquarters.

Reyes was on his way back to their office from a bank when Claveria punched him in the face and grabbed a brown bag containing P10,000.

Claveria, who fled on board a motorcycle driven by an unidentified cohort, shot Reyes twice but missed. In his hurry, the driver lost control of the motorcycle and hit a jeepney.

As the gunshots caught the attention of policemen, the suspects boarded a waiting car which was subsequently cornered by pursuing officers.

Police arrested the trio while inside their getaway vehicle.

Molina and Hiyao later claimed they were just passing by in the area when the robbery took place.

Meanwhile, the chief of PCP 19 in Pasig City was relieved from his post after three of his men were implicated in the recent robbery.

Valenzuela ordered the relief of Senior Inspector Earl Castillo, chief of PCP 19 for command responsibility. – With Sandy Araneta