By ALEXANDRIA SAN JUAN
A police officer and eight other men were arrested after being caught in the act of sniffing shabu during a drug bust in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City, Sunday night.
Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, director of the Quezon City Police, identified the policeman as PO1 Christopher Guevarra, 36, an active member of the PNP Maritime Group and a resident of Montalban, Rizal.
Joint operatives of the Batasan Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a drug sting against a certain “Nung-Nong” who was later identified as Norman Chua, a notorious drug peddler in the area.
An undercover policeman set a deal with Chua near his house on San Miguel Street in Barangay Payatas around 6 p.m.
When Chua handed the P500 worth of shabu to the poseur-buyer, he allegedly sensed that he was dealing with a cop, prompting him to escape leaving behind his companion identified as Ismael Pangilinan and his 13-year-old son who was used as a drug runner.
The operatives entered Chua’s lair where they spotted PO1 Guevarra sniffing shabu with other men identified as Lloyd Araneta, 29; Ricky Alay-ay, 32; Ernesto Manzano, 23; Herculano Artiaga Jr., 30; Apolinar Baybay Jr., 32; Coko Moreno, 38; and Vladimir Tavas, 26. They are all residents of Montalban, Rizal.
Police confiscated 18 sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P10,000, some drug paraphernalia, and the marked money, as well as Guevarra’s issued firearm – a 9mm pistol – with magazine loaded with four ammunition, and his PNP ID.
Result of the drug test conducted by the QCPD Crime Laboratory confirmed that Guevarra was positive for drug use.
Guevarra, who became a member of the PNP Maritime Group in 2009, will be relieved from his post. He is now under restrictive custody pending administrative and criminal investigations.
The other arrested drug personalities are now detained at the Batasan Police Station while drug-related charges are being readied against them.
The rescued boy was turned over to the Quezon City Social Services Department and a manhunt against Chua is ongoing.