By Jennifer P. Rendon
A police officer who was cash-strapped for purported gambling addiction was arrested for alleged motornapping.
Corporal Darrel Dumaraog, 34, a member of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (RFMB-6) based in Barangay Agcalaga, Calinog, Iloilo, was nabbed in a hot pursuit operation.
He was collared around 4 p.m. of the same day at RMFB 6 headquarters at Barangay Jibolo, Janiuay, Iloilo.
Police records indicated that Dumaraog allegedly drove away with a motorcycle owned by Barangay Captain Nicky Pescuela, 39, of Barangay Lopez Jaena Ward, Pototan, Iloilo.
The vehicle was parked at Pototan Public Plaza and was believed to have been stolen around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Pescuela reported the incident to police authorities around 11 a.m.
During the police investigation, CCTV camera footage showed that a man took the motorcycle and drove it to Barangay Rumbang, Pototan.
When the footage was shown, the suspect’s landlady and board mates confirmed that it was indeed Dumaraog.
It was gathered that the suspect is renting a place in the area as he hails from Barangay Lag-asan, Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Members of the Pototan Municipal Police Station and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) Special Operations Group immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation until he was arrested.
Major Roy Tayona, Pototan police chief, said Dumaraog had been heavily indebted after he got hooked on gambling. It was not clear what kind of gambling Dumaraog was addicted to.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 said the full force of the law will be slapped on Dumaraog.
It added that it does not and will not tolerate any form of wrongdoing among its ranks.
“The arrest of Police Corporal Darrel S. Dumaraog for alleged carnapping is a clear example that the law is unselective in its application. If evidence warrants, appropriate charge shall be filed against the offender and we will let the law run its course.”
The statement added that the PRO-6 leadership has been constantly reminding all its personnel to strictly abide by the rules and policies of the organization.
“Thus, all its personnel who are in violation of the laws and/or are involved in any way in illegal activities shall bear the consequences of the same.”
Brigadier General Leo Francisco, Western Visayas police chief, stressed that Dumaraog’s arrest only shows that the PNP fully implements the law with impartiality.
“May this serve as a stern warning and reminder to all PRO-6 personnel that any conduct, dealings and involvement in any crime or illegal activities will not be condoned. We do not and will not tolerate it. We will always uphold the law,” he said.
