IMEG bags Bicol cop linked to drug trade
A DRUG-dealing policeman in the Bicol region was arrested and jailed by agents of the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) in an anti-narcotics operation in Guinobatan, Albay, PNP-IMEG (Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group) director, Brigadier General Warren F. De Leon said on Friday.
The suspect, with the rank of Patrolman, assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Unit of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 yielded five plastic packets of shabu during the buy-bust operation in Purok 1, Barangay San Rafael in Guinobatan municipality around 2 p.m. last May 11, said the official in a report to PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr.
According to De Leon, members of the IMEG Luzon Field Unit 5 targeted the accused policeman after he was tagged by a “drug dealer” arrested by members of the Oas Municipal Police Station (MPS) in the same province as the alleged “source” of the drugs recovered from him.
The official said that in coordination with the PRO5 headed by Brig. Gen. Westrimundo Obinque, his men placed the suspect, who was also reported to be engaged in the use and sale of prohibited drugs, under strict monitoring and surveillance.
During the operation, members of the Guinobatan MPS, the PNP-IMEG, the Oas MPS, the PRO5 Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the Albay Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Albay Regional Intelligence Unit 5 positioned themselves from a distance to apprehend the suspect.
An undercover officer from the Albay Provincial Intelligence Unit posed as a “buyer” from the accused who arrived in the area and later handed the shabu to the agent after a short talk in exchange for P16,000.
The lawmen immediately surrounded the suspect after the drug deal was consummated and arrested him.
Recovered were five plastic sachets containing the so-called “poor man’s cocaine,” the buy-bust money, and a PNP-issued Zigana PX-9mm semi-automatic pistol with three magazines containing 33 live ammunition.
The suspect is now facing-non bailable criminal charges for the sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The PNP-IMEG has recommended to the PRO5 leadership the filing of administrative charges for grave misconduct against the suspect, which will lead to his dismissal from the police service.
The criminal charges filed against the accused policeman carry the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of as much as P10 million upon conviction by the court.
