In a sweeping move to address police misconduct, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has relieved all 31 personnel of the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) under the Eastern Police District (EPD) following a controversial operation that resulted in the alleged illegal arrest and robbery of two Chinese nationals.

NCRPO Chief Police Major General Anthony Aberin announced the mass relief after eight DSOU officers were accused of forcibly taking nearly P85 million worth of cash and valuables from the victims during a raid on April 2 in Portofino Heights, Barangay Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City.

Among those removed from their posts were senior DSOU officials, citing command responsibility as grounds for their dismissal.

"We will not tolerate abuse of power within our ranks," said Aberin, adding that further investigation is underway to determine whether other individuals were involved in the scheme, which included the illegal arrest of Chinese nationals identified as "Jie Li" and "Wang Feng Tao."

Ordeal Caught in Silence

The victims’ relatives, who spoke to the media, said eight plainclothes officers arrived at their residence around 1:00 p.m. and served an arrest warrant for illegal possession of firearms. However, the warrant allegedly bore a different name, raising suspicion from the family, who claimed their objections were ignored.

The officers then disabled all CCTV cameras in the home before escorting one of the Chinese nationals to the second floor and ordering him to open a personal safety vault.

According to the family, the suspects looted several valuable items, including four luxury watches, a 600-gram gold bar, and other high-end belongings, placing them in their own luggage bags. They also allegedly took P12 million in cash before detaining the victim at a nearby precinct.

No Charges Filed

The following day, the victim was transferred to the Las Piñas City Police Station, where personnel expressed surprise over the lack of coordination from the EPD-DSOU. With no formal charges filed, the victim was released shortly after.

The family of the victim, who have been residing in the Philippines for the past four years, said they operate a restaurant business and have never had any involvement in criminal activity.

Officers Under Custody

The eight officers involved—identified as four staff sergeants, two corporals, and two patrolmen—have been placed under restrictive custody. They were also stripped of their service firearms, IDs, and badges, as the NCRPO prepares multiple criminal and administrative charges against them.

"This is a serious breach of public trust," said Aberin. “We are committed to holding those responsible fully accountable.”

The incident has once again raised concerns over police abuse and corruption, prompting calls for greater transparency and stricter internal accountability within the Philippine National Police.