CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Two rookie policemen assigned at the Manila Police District were arrested by local police after residents in the community reported to authorities their suspicious presence at Barangay Sto. Nino, San Simon, Pampanga Friday, a Pampanga top cop announced.
The two suspects are allegedly moonlighting as distributors of counterfeit cigarettes. They were arrested with two other civilians including a barangay kagawad.
Senior Supt. Nicolas Salvador, director of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPO), identified the suspects as PO1 Jupiter Suringa Quizon, 35, of Salvacion Street, Moriones, Tondo, Manila and PO1 Christian Catalan Damian, 30, of Balot, Tondo, Manila, both assigned at the Manila’s Finest.
Two other suspects were Marlon Padalian Perez, 22, and Jona de Leon Cenia, 43, a Barangay Kagawad, both of Euseco, Tondo, Manila.
Salvador said the two suspects, who introduced themselves as policemen to their prospective buyers, offered for sale a popular brand of cigarette at a very low price. He said the group has been making rounds in the community when spotted by residents and reported their presence to the local police.
The contraband, Salvador said, was found at the back compartment of a black Ford Ecosport, a sports utility vehicle (COE517) when checked by responding cops.
He said more than 100 rims of Marlboro cigarettes neatly concealed inside the SUV and two calibre 9mm pistols believed to be service firearms of the policemen were discovered by local police when the vehicle was subjected to further inspection.
Salvador commended the cooperative attitude of residents in the community that led to the arrest of four suspects.
“Kapag ang community ang naging partner ng Kapulisan tiyak na hindi magtatagumpay ang hindi magadang gawai ng mga criminal,” Salvador said in vernacular.
The suspects and seized items including the vehicle were brought to San Simon police headquarters for further investigation.
Salvador said appropriate charges are being readied against the suspects.