The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has initiated administrative proceedings against six police officers assigned to the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the Manila Police District (SDEU-MPD) following their arrest over a now-viral robbery incident in Makati City.

The action came after the victims personally filed a formal complaint before NAPOLCOM’s Inspection, Monitoring, and Investigation Service (IMIS) at the commission’s central office in Quezon City on 30 January.

At the same time, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) formally began a pre-charge investigation against the six officers.

IAS Inspector General Atty. Brigido J. Dulay said the probe would be thorough and uncompromising.

“The Internal Affairs Service will leave no stone unturned in unmasking all those involved in this illegal activity. We will not tolerate criminal conduct in the police service, and those found liable will face the full force of the law,” Dulay said.

He added that command responsibility is also being examined should evidence point to lapses in supervision or accountability by concerned commanding officers.

As an immediate measure, all members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Malate Police Station were relieved from their posts pending the outcome of the investigation. The case could lead to the dismissal of the involved officers from the Manila Police District, while the Makati City Police are preparing criminal charges.

NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan, vice chairperson and executive officer, strongly condemned the incident and directed IMIS to conduct a parallel and independent investigation.

“Kapag ang uniporme ay ginamit sa pananakot, pang-aabuso, at krimen, ito ay malinaw na pagtataksil sa tiwala ng sambayanan. Ang pulis ay inatasang magprotekta, hindi mangbiktima,” Calinisan said.

He stressed that NAPOLCOM, as the “Pulis ng Pulis,” would pursue full accountability without exception.

“Walang espesyal na trato at walang pagtatakip. Kung mapatutunayang totoo ang mga paratang, ang katapat nito ay buong pananagutan. Iyan ang paninindigan ng NAPOLCOM para sa isang pulisyang tapat, propesyonal, at may integridad,” he added.

Calinisan also commended the Makati City Police under Police Col. Pedro A. Alagano Jr. for the swift response that led to the arrest of the suspects.

“We will issue a commendation to the Makati City Police for a job well done,” he said.

The incident occurred at around 8 p.m. on January 28 along Arsonvel Street, Barangay San Isidro, Makati City. The victims were allegedly lured from Malate, Manila, then threatened, restrained, and robbed at gunpoint by armed suspects who fled on motorcycles.

A hot pursuit operation by the Makati City Police led to the arrest of the suspects, identified as one police sergeant and five patrolmen. They are currently under police custody as both criminal and administrative cases proceed.

Follow-up investigation showed the officers allegedly conducted unauthorized anti-illegal drug operations in Barangay San Isidro without coordination with the territorial police unit. Reports also said one victim sustained physical injuries, while additional complainants later identified the same suspects in earlier robbery incidents in the area. Recovered items reportedly included mobile phones and cash.

PNP chief Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said there is no place for corruption, negligence, and abuse under the current police leadership, as he ordered the National Capital Region Police Office to place the officers under restrictive custody and preventive suspension.

“I will personally monitor the progress of this case to make sure that these policemen will not only be dismissed from the service but also go straight to jail. Criminal-minded policemen do not deserve to wear the uniform and use our badge,” Nartatez said.

He also praised the Makati City Police for the arrest and said the internal cleansing program would continue.

“The fact that it is also PNP personnel who arrested these erring policemen says a lot in terms of zero-tolerance on wrongdoings in the organization. I commend the Makati City Police for doing their job well,” he added.