A police officer who had gone absent without leave was arrested for the crime of malversation of public property and serving a warrant of arrest to another AWOL cop for failure to appear before the court, the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group said yesterday.

In a statement, IMEG Director Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon identified the suspect as PMSg Joel Tamala Jasareno, (AWOL from PNP service). He was arrested last Monday in Tondo, Manila by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Presiding Judge of RTC, National Capital Judicial Region, Branch 81, Quezon City dated 19 September 2023, for the crime of Malversation of Public Property (Art. 217 of the RPC) with bail amounting to P60,000.

De Leon said the case of malversation was filed by Quezon City Police District against Jasareno over his issued long firearms (Galil) which he failed to return to his unit.

In a separate law enforcement operation conducted by the operatives of IMEG-Luzon Field Unit Team 4A on the same day, De Leon said a warrant of arrest was served to Ex-PO1 Luis Jomok III, who is currently serving his sentence at the Maximum Security Compound, New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City, for failure to appear in a scheduled hearing before the court in the case of two counts of theft issued by Presiding Judge of RTC Fourth Region, Branch 71, Antipolo City, Rizal dated 20 February 2023 with recommended bail bond amounting to P40,000 and P28,000, respectively.

The warrant of arrest emanated from the complaint of Herminio B. Tan of Hermit Gas Refilling Plant that on 15 March 2008 at Taytay, Rizal, that the accused took several items and equipment amounting to P70,000. He was also arrested by IMEG last June 2022 to serve his sentence for the crime of homicide.