Cops facing theft raps surrender

BY RANIE S. AZUE

BACOLOD City – Three personnel of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) accused of qualified theft voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Chief Insp. Rico Santotome, NOPPO public information officer, the suspects relinquished themselves to Inspectors John Batusbatusan and Hercules Trigue of the Negros Occidental Public Safety Company.

The suspects were SPO4 Jose Gargar Jr., SPO2 Aladino Docil and PO3 Dante Honrado.

They were all immediately turned over to Sagay City Police Office Director, Senior Insp. Gabriel Gutierrez, said Santotome.

The police officers were subjects of the arrest warrant issued by Judge Renato Munez of Cadiz City Regional Trial Court for committing “qualified theft.”

They allegedly sold P65,000 worth of scrap metals they confiscated from a scrap metal dealer more than three years ago in Sagay City.

That time, they were still assigned in the 601st Provincial Mobile Group.

During the NOPPO command conference last week, no less than Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao ordered the immediate serving of the arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, NOPPO Director, Senior Supt. Manuel Felix assured the public that they will enforce the law fairly, even if it means arresting their fellow police officers./PN