Police-issued firearm used in string of robberies in Nueva Ecija

The gun of a slain robber in Nueva Ecija was found to be a firearm issued to a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to John Consulta’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

CCTV footage showed the unidentified suspect robbing a convenience store in Cabanatuan City and a gasoline station in Sta. Rosa—just two of the 22 establishments the police say the robber had victimized starting January 1.

Based on the information gathered by the provincial intelligence unit, the Nueva Ecija police found the suspect in his hideout, where he was killed in the ensuing firefight. 

The authorities recovered the suspect’s motorcycle, helmet, and a gun, which turned out to be the property of the PNP.

Police Colonel Jess Mendez, provincial director of Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (PPO), said that the police officer who had been issued the gun claimed that they had lost the gun when their motorcycle was stolen.

“Well definitely, bababa yung krimen ng insidente ng robberies dito sa Nueva Ecija kasi natumbok talaga natin yung bumibira. But still mayroon pa rin tayong isang grupo na tinitignan at eventually mahuhuli din natin sila,” he added.

(Well definitely, the robbery incidents here in Nueva Ecija will decrease because we already captured the robber. But we still have a group to investigate and eventually we will catch them too.) — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News