Mabalacat city: Three persons, including two police officers, were arrested for alleged robbery in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 (Central Luzon) chief Brig Gen. Ponce Rogelio Pe±ones said on Friday. In a statement, Pe±ones disclosed that the two officers assigned to the Pampanga Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) are facing charges of robbery with intimidation and attempted kidnapping, along with administrative charges.

According to Philippines News Agency, the incident involved five unidentified armed men wearing black jackets, bonnets, and face masks who forcibly entered a printing shop in Barangay Tabun at around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The suspects restrained the residents with cable straps and accused them of illegal drug activities while disabling the shop's closed-circuit television camera.

The perpetrators then escaped with nine assorted high-end smartphones in a black Toyota Vios without a license plate. Follow-up operations by authorities led to the discovery of the abandoned getaway vehicle in Barangay San Vicente, Sacobia, Bamban, Tarlac. Upon inspection, a document was found linking the vehicle to members of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit-Pampanga Police Provincial Office.

Further coordination with the unit resulted in the arrest of two personnel, and the stolen items were recovered. The arrested individuals were informed of their constitutional rights, and the case of robbery with intimidation and attempted kidnapping was referred to the Office of the Prosecutor, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The case was filed through online inquest proceedings before Fiscal Frederick Lagrada against the suspects.