Camp BGen Efigenio C Navarro, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro- A 31-year-old cop assigned to the Technical Support Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 4B was arrested by members of barangay tanod of Barangay Sta. Maria, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro on February 18, 2022, about 10:00 P.M.

The police report said that the two barangay tanod and the witness heard a noise from the back door of ABC3 Hardware, owned by Allan Seño Mantaring, 60 years old, and when they verified it, they saw its doorknob broken.

They also discovered pliers, screwdrivers, and a hammer on the floor that were allegedly used to destroy the said knob.

Accordingly, the barangay tanod, Jay Permejo Semilla, 37, and Necole Camilla Pilapil, 22, guarded the place to identify the perpetrator.

After 30 minutes, a man came out in the dark near the vicinity of the establishment which led to his arrest who was later identified as Police Corporal Leonell Lazaro Maranan, who hails from Sta. Cruz, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

Later, PCpl Maranan was turned over to the responding police from Gloria Municipal Police Station.

Recovered from the suspect was his issued firearm, Beretta caliber 9mm, with magazines, ammunition, and certificate of authority issued by the Commission on Elections.

Police Major EDWIN H VILLARBA, Gloria MPS chief, said that the arrested cop was also involved in online “sabong” which allegedly compelled him to commit the said crime.

As of press time, PCpl Maranan is under the custody of Gloria MPS and is facing criminal complaints, attempted robbery.

Records disclose that Police Regional Office MIMAROPA has scored 89 administrative cases from January 1, 2021, to February 19, 2022.

Out of the said figure, 81 had already been resolved while the remaining 8 are still on deliberation, Police Colonel ARVIN T MOLINA, Regional Personnel, and Records Management Division chief said.

Police Brigadier General SIDNEY S HERNIA, Regional Director of Police Regional Office MIMAROPA, has directed Gloria MPS to conduct an in-depth investigation on the said incident, and to file both criminal and admin complaints against the said cop.

“We never tolerate any misfits or rogue cops in our ranks. If pieces of evidence warrant, he has to be dismissed from the service immediately after due process”, he continued. -RPIO MIMAROPA