TWO MONTHS of surveillance led to the arrest of a former police officer, who went absent without official leave (Awol) in 2018, and his drug supplier in separate drug busts in Cebu over the weekend.
Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) nabbed former Corporal Christian Ando, 34, in Sitio Latid, Barangay Poblacion in the southwestern town of Pinamungajan Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, 2019.
Lieutenant Colonel Marlu Conag, PIB chief, said Ando was with his cohort Allan Abaquita, 44, a resident of Barangay Mohon, Tuburan, Cebu, during their operation.
The two men, Conag said, are on the list of high-value targets of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
Seized from the suspects were 11.8 grams of suspected shabu worth P80,240, based on a Dangerous Drugs Board value.
According to Conag, Ando, who is married to the daughter of Poblacion’s barangay captain, was assigned at the Police Station 2 of the Lapu Lapu City Police Office before he went Awol in 2018 because he failed to receive work allowances.
“During his arrest, he confessed that he sourced his shabu supply from a certain Cristita Garcia. He allegedly began using drugs when he was dismissed and later engaged in selling drugs and found links with drug dealers in Cebu City,” Conag said.
Garcia and two others were caught in a follow-up operation in the former’s house in Sitio Punyang, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, Sunday morning, Sept. 22.
The PIB, together with other anti-narcotics agencies, also arrested Brex Neil Pactol, 29, and Eric Ibale, 27.
Authorities recovered from them 25 grams of suspected shabu worth P170,000.
Garcia confirmed that she sold drugs to Ando and another policeman, whom authorities refused to identify pending an ongoing investigation.
Ando, Abaquita, Garcia, Pactol and Ibale were temporarily detained in the PIB stockade at the CPPO headquarters in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
They will face charges for violation of Sections 5, 11, and 26 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In August 2018, a former policeman named Alberto Veliganio was also arrested in Barangay Talisay, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, for possession of P144,550 worth of illegal drugs.
A month after, another ex- cop, a certain Roger Pogoy, was arrested by operatives of the Carbon Police Station in Sitio Omega, Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City for the same violation. (WBS)