PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. on Wednesday announced the arrest of two more erring policemen in the country amid their stepped up internal cleansing program.

“As I have always emphasized, there is no room for misconduct and breach of internal discipline in the PNP, thus we will ensure that cops with criminal cases and admin charges are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law because criminals have no place in the police service,” the top cop said in a press statement.

Lt. Gen. Danao identified those arrested as Major Angelita Nastor and AWOL Police Officer 1 Jonjon Averion,32.

He said that the 40-year old Maj. Nastor was arrested by combined operatives from the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group under Brigadier Gen. Samuel C. Nacion and the San Jose Municipal Police Station in Occidental Mindoro of the Police Regional Office 4-B headed by Brig. Gen. Sydney S. Hernia on Tuesday morning.

Nastor was arrested on the strength of a warrant for direct assault or Article 148 of the Revised Penal Code issued by Judge Dennis Aga of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 140 with a P36,000 recommended bail.

The officer was taken to the San Jose police station for booking and documentation prior to her presentation to court, said the top cop.

On the other hand, Averion was arrested by members of the PNP-IMEG and the Tagkawayan MPS in his hiding place in Bgy. Poblacion in Tagkawayan, Quezon around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Danao said that the AWOL policeman is the subject of a warrant of arrest for robbery-extortion and robbery issued by Judge Liezel Aquiatan of the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 last April 26.

On Tuesday, the PNP-OIC also announced the arrest of a 40-year old police non-commissioned officer from Iloilo during a buy-bust operation in Molo, Iloilo.

He said that Police Staff Sergeant Igmedio Cristobal Jr. is now facing criminal and administrative charges that will automatically lead to his dismissal from the force.

According to the top cop, the accused. was arrested in a buy-bust operation along Aries Street in VML Subdivision, North Fundidor, Molo, Iloilo.

The erring cop was immediately disarmed shortly after the sting which resulted in the seizure of 17 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing around 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000 and the buy-bust money, said Lt. Gen. Danao.

Members of the Police Regional Office 6 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the Iloilo City Police Office under Brigadier Gen. Flynn E. Dongbo conducted the operation, the PNP-OIC said.

Apart from the pieces of drug evidence, also confiscated from the possession of the suspect were a cellphone he used in making contact with the poseur, different identification cards and a motorcycle with plate no. FC 13001.

“Ang pagkahuli kay PSSg Cristobal ay babala para sa iba pang kasamahan natin na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin tumitigil sa paggawa ng iligal at labag sa batas. Sa ilalim ng aking pamumuno ay titiyakin ko at hindi magdadalawang isip na tanggalin sa serbisyo at kasuhan ang sinumang mahuhuli at mapatunayang sangkot sa iligal na gawain lalong-lalo na ang iligal na droga,” Lt. Gen. Danao said.

Cristobal is now being held at the PRO6 RPDEU office facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and administrative charges for grave misconduct.

Lt. Gen. Danao ordered Brig. Gen. Dongbo to ensure an air-tight administrative case against the suspect which will lead to his dismissal from the police force without any benefits.

He is also facing the prospect of being given the maximum sentence of life imprisonment once convicted for violation of RA 9165.

Lt. Gen. Danao on Monday reiterated his stern warning against PNP peronnel who are involved in drugs and called on them to mend their ways or end up behind bars or even six-feet underground once they attempt to put up a fight while being arrested. By ALFRED DALIZON