A police officer allegedly engaged in illegal drug trade was arrested by his colleagues during an entrapment operation in Sampaloc, Manila, late Thursday night.
The suspect was identified as Patrolman Ferdinand Cruz Rafael, assigned to the District Administrative Holding Unit (DAHU) of the Manila Police District (MPD).
According to police, a concerned citizen reported about the cop’s frequent visits to Room B of apartment No. 356 at the corner of Calabasita and Calabash Streets, Barangay 539, Zone 53, to peddle illegal drugs.
Authorities then conducted a series of surveillance which confirmed the allegation about Rafael.
In one instance, the policeman was caught on camera sniffing shabu with two other men, according to police report.
Joint elements of National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU), Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, and MPD Station 4 launched a buy-bust operation at the apartment resulting in the arrest of the suspect at 11 p.m., Thursday.
Police recovered from the suspect 10 small sachets of shabu with an estimated street-value of P102,000.
A digital weighing scale used in measuring the illegal drugs, various drug paraphernalia, and P1000 marked money were also recovered as evidence.
The suspect, meanwhile, was lectured by NCRPO chief Police Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar in front of the media before he was brought to RDEU for proper disposition.
“We all know that we are doing the war on drugs for the good of all. But it is imperative that we, the members of PNP, will be the lead in enforcing it. We must not have colleagues, like this policeman, who are involved in illegal drugs,” he said.
Eleazar vowed to work for the dismissal of Rafael.
“We do not need this kind of police. Many people, whose applications we are processing, want to join our force,” he said.
Meanwhile, the suspect received a blow to the head from MPD director Police Brigadier General Vicente Danao, Jr. as he did not know his name and his immediate supervisor.
The Manila’s top cop warned that he will kill other erring cops under his district if he personally caught them.
“I just hope this will be the first and the last at MPD. If I caught you, I will kill you,” he said.
The arrested policeman refused to talk when sought for a comment.
Aside from administrative cases, the arrested policeman will be charged with violation of Sections 5, 11, 12, 14 and 15 under Article II of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The cop’s immediate supervisor will also be relieved from the post while further investigation is ongoing. (Ria Fernandez)
