CAMP OLIVAS – The Pampanga Provincial Police Office has a new director in-charge after Col. Robin Sarmiento was relieved from his post due to the involvement of 10 police officers in an illegal activity.
Col. Jonas Amparo, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, replaced Sarmiento, who was ordered relieved from his post last Friday.
PRO-3 director Brig. Gen. Mattew Baccay said Sarmiento’s relief stemmed from the case of the 10 police officers who were allegedly involved in the robbery case filed by 10 complainants on March 19 inside a compound in Barangay Duat, Bacolor town.
Baccay said complainants told police they were allegedly robbed by 10 police officers who were members of the Pampanga Police Intelligence Unit.
The complainants were conducting a tupada (cockfighting) inside the compound of a certain Alberto Gopez when the police officers barged into the compound and accosted them for the illegal cockfight.
The complainants said during their arrest, the police officers divested them of their money amounting to P379,700 in cash and other valuables before they were released.
Baccay said after learning of the incident, he ordered the relief of all the police officers involved in the incident.
Their issued firearms were also recalled so they may not be able to intervene in the investigation process, he said.
Baccay said Sarmiento was ordered relieved due to the PNP policy of command responsibility.
Baccay said criminal and administrative cases were filed against the 10 police officers identified as Cpl. Resty Delima, 33; Cpl. Jayarr Macaraeg, 36; Msg. Rommel Nool, 37; Pat. Jhusua Fernandez, 27; Pat. Bryan Steve Pasquin, 25; Cpl. Alvin Pastorin, 33; Pat. Bjay Sales, 30; Cpl. Norman Lazaga, 34; Pat. Jayson Martinez, 28; and Pat. Jeff Cruz, 25.
