MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported Friday (04 Apr 2025) the relief of 31 officers from the Eastern Police District’s (EPD) Special Operations Unit after they allegedly robbed a Chinese businessman of P85 million in Las Piñas City on April 2.
NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, announced that he had ordered the relief of the entire unit pending an investigation.
Eight officers directly involved in the robbery have been placed under restrictive custody. Aberin has also ordered criminal and administrative charges against all involved officers, including their superiors.
The robbery occurred when the officers allegedly served a bogus warrant of arrest against the businessman.
According to the victim and their relatives, the EPD officers shut down the CCTV system, forcibly opened the vaults, and stole P85 million in cash (in pesos, US dollars, and Malaysian ringgits), jewelry, gadgets, and other belongings.
Aberin mentioned that the officers violated several protocols, including a lack of coordination with the local police station, not using body-worn cameras, and failing to get clearance from their superiors.
While the officers defended their actions by claiming the businessman attempted to bribe them, Aberin made it clear that the NCRPO would not tolerate illegal activities, and he warned that any officers involved in such acts would face serious consequences, including dismissal.
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