MANILA — Thirty-one police officers from the Eastern Police District's District Special Operations Unit were relieved from their posts for allegedly robbing a Chinese businessman of P85 million in cash and valuables in Las Piñas on April 2

Police Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said he ordered the relief of the entire unit pending the results of an investigation into eight members directly involved in the incident.

"Marami silang violations, lumabas sila sa [Area of Responsibility] without a proper pre-operations clearance, which is [supposed to be approved by the] Deputy District Director for Operations ng district," he said.

(They committed many violations. They went out of their AOR without proper pre-operations clearance from the Deputy District Director for Operations)

Aberin said the operation was led by a police staff sergeant, which he said violated procedure. 

The police officers also did not use Body Worn Cameras or alternative recording devices and did not submit a report on the operation immediately.

"So marami yung violations nila (So they have a lot of violations)." 

Police Brig. Gen. Villamor Tuliao, director of the Eastern Police District, said the eight officers have already been placed in restrictive custody and have been disarmed pending the probe. 

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"Bukod doon sa walong under restrictive custody, ni-relieve na rin natin yung buong DSOU...para malinis natin maimbestigahan din sila," said Tuliao.

(Apart from the eight under restrictive custody, we also relieved the entire DSOU so we can investigate them freely) 

WHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Chinese businessman's brother and sister, the DSOU cops barged into their residence to supposedly serve an arrest warrant. 

The police officers were not in uniform when they introduced themselves as members of EPD-DSOU.

The businessman's sister said the subject of the warrant had the same name as her brother but that the photo the police had was of a "totally different person." 

“Actually, same name only, but not the Chinese name — the spelling is different.. they are same name but the people are different person,” she said.

She said the police initially asked for P10 billion then ordered them to open their safe boxes when the siblings said they did not have that much money.

The police officers allegedly took the following valuables:

• Cash worth P27 million, $430,000 and RM110,000
• Bulgari necklace worth P300,000
• Three Rolex women's watches worth P5 million
• Two Audemars men's watches worth P10 million
• A 600-gram gold bar worth P4 million
• Six gold bracelets worth P2 million
• Twenty gold longevity locks worth P3 million
• Wallet containing ID cards, bank cards and RMB 5,000
• Assorted Apple gadgets

The police officers also arrested the businessman and took him to the DSOU station in Pasig City.

"I think it’s around 20 minutes something like that. They do it very fast," the victim's brother said.

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The brother added the police were asking for more money in exchange for the businessman's release. When they could not comply, the cops turned him over to the Las Piñas police.

He said the Las Piñas police released their brother on April 3, noting that the operation was not coordinated with them beforehand.

He said they will pursue robbery charges against the police officers who they believe had conspired with one of their household helpers.

Aberin said the police officers involved have insist there was nothing irregular about the operation and accused the Chinese nationals of trying to bribe them.

He said the cops may face administrative and criminal charges.