By ALEXANDRIA SAN JUAN
A rookie policeman allegedly involved in illegal drug activities was arrested along with his father and aunt during a buy-bust operation in Quezon City on Tuesday night.
Police Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, identified the suspect as Patrolman Darryl Galendez, 25, a resident of Valenzuela City and assigned to the Police Community Precinct 2 of Malabon City Police Station.
Also arrested were the cop’s father Daniel Galendez, 50, and his aunt Estella Alfonso, 36, of Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City.
In a press conference at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal on Wednesday, Esquivel said the three were nabbed during an entrapment conducted by members of Talipapa Police Station (PS-3) at the house of Alfonso on MacArthur Street.
Police Lt. Col. Alex Alberto, PS-3 chief, said the operation stemmed from a six-month surveillance against Galendez and his father based on information about their illegal drug peddling in Barangay Pasong Tamo.
Upon confirmation, operatives of PS-3 Drug Enforcement Unit set a drug sting against the suspects around 10:30 p.m.
An undercover police purchased P200 worth of shabu from the suspects that led to their arrest.
However, one of their companions, a certain “Balawis” escaped during the operation and is now subject of a police manhunt.
Authorities seized from the suspects seven sachets of shabu, an unlicensed .45-caliber pistol, four mobile phones and the buy-bust money.
According to Esquivel, the younger Galendez was already involved in illegal drug activities before he entered the police service in 2017.
The arrested suspects are now under police custody and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Additional case for illegal possession of firearms in relation to the existing Omnibus Election Code will also be filed against the police officer.
