Authorities have arrested an anti-narcotics policeman assigned in Pasig City after he was caught riding the motorcycle owned by a drug suspect whom he arrested last year.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, director of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), said the operation was based on a tip-off that Police Corporal Esteven Mark Pandi has been using a motorcycle that was supposed to be part of the evidence against a drug suspect nabbed in October last year.
Pandi, assigned to the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of Pasig City Police Station, was confirmed to have taken as his own the motorcycle.
“He was arrested during our follow-up operation. The motorcycle was declared as evidence against a drug suspect but this policeman has been using it which is in violation of the law,” said Lee.
During the operation, Lee said Pandi was arrested with a backrider, which is in violation of the rule on physical distancing which is being implemented as part of the measures against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
Aside from the motorcycle with no license plate, also seized were a .45-caliber pistol, a 9mm pistol, and two magazines loaded with 20 bullets.
Lee said the erring cop is now in the custody of the PNP-IMEG. He is facing a string of criminal and administrative charges. (Aaron Recuenco)
