Trial of cops in Caloocan raid-robbery set

MANILA, Philippines — At least 12 police officers are set to face trial for a drug raid- turned-robbery that caused the relief of Caloocan City’s entire police force last year. 

Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 126 Judge Lorenza Bordios has terminated the pre-trial of the case and set the trial for robbery of former precinct commander Chief Inspector Timothy Aniway Jr. and his former personnel – team leader Senior Inspector Warren Peralta and Police Officers 1 Ariel Furio, Jay-R Sabangan, Jaime Natividad, Jay Gabata, Michael Angelo Miguel, Marvin Poblite, Louie Serrano, Sherwin Rivera, Francis Quidic and Sampang Sampurna II – over their entry into businesswoman Gina Erobas’ house on Sept. 7, 2017 without a search warrant.

The raiding team used a bolt cutter to enter the gate of Erobas’ residence.

In an order dated Aug. 24, Bordios set the trial from October until August next year.

While the police officers said they entered Erobas’ house after receiving a tip she was involved in drug trade, closed-circuit television footage in the house showed that an informant stole the items lifted by the police officers from the television rack.

The stolen items, worth P27,000, include a Samsung cell phone, two wristwatches and P6,000 cash.

Informants John Paul “Kingkong” Narrido and Mark Andrada “Pilay” Dizon, who accompanied the lawmen during the raid, remain at large.

In indicting the police officers and their assets, the Department of Justice prosecutors said the police officers’ entry into the house without a search warrant “exceeded the allowable limits of warrantless searches.”