Pampanga top cop sacked over men’s hulidap

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — The police director in this province has been relieved from his post after 10 of his men were tagged in the alleged robbery of cockfight players they accosted in Bacolor town.

Supt. Robin Sarmiento was relieved by Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay based on the principle of command responsibility, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo confirmed yesterday.

Col. Jonas Amparo was designated acting Pampanga police chief.

Ten cockfight players filed robbery charges against Senior M/Sgt. Rommel Nool; Corporals Resty Delima, Jayarr Macaraeg, Alvin Pastorin and Norman Lazaga, and Patrolmen Jhusua Fernandez, Bryan Steve Pasquin, Bjay Sales, Jayson Martinez and Jeff Van Cruz.

The policemen were accused of taking cash amounting to P379,700 as well as the valuables of the complainants in a supposed raid on a cockfighting activity on March 19.

Macaraeg, Delima and Nool are members of the Pampanga drug enforcement unit. The seven others are with the provincial intelligence unit.

The 10 policemen had earlier been relieved from their posts.