Querol orders dismissal of ‘Doce Pares’ cops

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol initiated yesterday summary dismissal proceedings against four policemen tagged in a string of kidnappings and robbery cases in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal province.

In line with the transformation program of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao, Querol vowed to sack the four officers, who are alleged members of the "Doce Pares" gang.

"They are a disgrace to the men in uniform," the Metro police chief told The STAR. "They must be meted the severest penalty under PNP rules and regulations so others would not emulate them."

Tasked to conduct the summary dismissal proceedings against PO2 Joel Tapec, PO1 Candido Vallejo, PO1 Roel Palana and PO1 Roger Villarente, all from the Eastern Police District (EPD), was Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., the intelligence chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

"He (Rojas) will collate evidence gathered by other police units against the four rogue cops and use them in the hearing," said Querol, who stressed the four cops would be given an opportunity to present their side.

Of the four suspects, only Vallejo, Villarente and Palana are under the custody of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) while Tapec, the alleged gang leader, remains at large.

Another suspected Doce Pares member, PO2 Allan Verania of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-NCR, was recently arrested and has joined the three EPD officers at the PACER detention cell.

Querol pointed out that Verania’s summary dismissal would be taken care of by his superior officer, CIDG director Chief Superintendent Ricardo Dapat.

Meanwhile, the Citizens Action Against Crime (CAAC) urged the PNP to speed up the cleansing of its ranks following kidnapping incidents involving cops.

In a statement, CAAC spokeswoman Teresita Ang-See said the Filipino-Chinese community has expressed alarm over the latest crime wave.

"We cannot help but be alarmed. Two victims were killed in a span of just five days. There were two armed robberies in just two weeks. Policemen were involved in all of them," Ang-See said.

She said they have been informed that many incidents of carjacking and hijacking in recent months were perpetrated by rogue policemen.

"We condemn the dastardly acts of rogue policemen who have betrayed their duty to protect citizens and instead prey on those whom they have sworn to protect," Ang-See said.

She asked the PNP to conduct a prompt and honest-to-goodness cleansing of their ranks. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe