Iloilo cop faces ax over P374K shabu
A 40-YEAR-OLD police non-commissioned officer from Iloilo is now facing criminal and administrative charges that will automatically lead to his dismissal from the force after being arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in the province last Sunday, Philippine National Police-Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC) Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. said yesterday.
According to the top cop, P/Staff Sergeant Igmedio Cristobal Jr. was arrested in a buy-bust operation along Aries Street in VML Subdivision, North Fundidor, Molo, Iloilo.
The erring cop was immediately disarmed after the sting, which resulted in the seizure of 17 plastic sachets of shabu weighing 55 grams and valued at P374,000 and the buy-bust money, said Lt. Gen. Danao.
The PNP-OIC said that members of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) and the Iloilo City Police Office under Brig. Gen. Flynn E. Dongbo conducted the operation.
Apart from the pieces of drug evidence, also confiscated from the suspect’s possession were a cellphone he used in making contact with the poseur, different identification cards (IDs), and a motorcycle.
“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 and 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 of a violation of RA 9165.
Lt. Gen. Danao on Monday reiterated his stern warning against PNP personnel 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
