Cop in Abu Sayyaf rescue mission relieved from post

MANILA – Police Superintendent Maria Christina Nobleza, deputy chief of Crime Laboratory in the Davao Region Police Office, was relieved from her post, days after she was allegedly involved in a rescue mission of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Bohol last weekend.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory director Aurelio Trampe said Tuesday that Nobleza has been transferred to the crime laboratory’s main headquarters in Camp Crame while undergoing investigation.

On April 22, Nobleza was arrested together with her alleged boyfriend Renierlo Dongon, a member of the Abu Sayyaf group and a bomb maker, while their group is heading towards Clarin town to rescue a wounded comrade.

They were nabbed after refusing to stop at a police checkpoint in Clarin, Bohol where police and military were conducting joint operations to arrest the remaining bandits who entered the province.

Nobleza joined the PNP in 1996 and was initially assigned at the Crime Laboratory.

She was also assigned to the PNP’s Task Force Smuggling, Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Force and PACER in 2005 and served as Chief of the Intelligence Operation Division of the Directorate for Intelligence from 2008 to 2011.

In 2012, Nobleza was assigned at the Police Regional Office 5 Crime Laboratory unit but was transferred to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in 2013 where she met Dongon.

PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Dongon was arrested in 2013 for double murder charges over his involvement in the 2012 bombing attack in Cagayan De Oro City. Nobleza interrogated him during his arrest.

In 2016, Nobleza was assigned at the PNP-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group but was re-assigned as Crime Laboratory chief in Davao after Dela Rosa dismantled the AIDG.

Dela Rosa said Nobleza will face charges of illegal possession of firearms, harbouring of criminal and conspiracy to commit terrorism.

From Bohol, Nobleza and Dongon were transferred to Camp Crame on Tuesday.

Dela Rosa said the two should be detained in the PNP custodial center as they are considered as high value targets.

The PNP chief said he will make sure Nobleza will be put behind bars for her alleged conspiracy with the terrorist group.