A POLICE officer and a brother of a commissioned officer were arrested in a buy-bust operation Wednesday evening, October 2, along Iñigo St., Barrio Obrero, Barangay 18-B, Davao City.
Based on a report, the entrapment operation was launched at 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, October 2. It was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Team of Talomo Police Station led by Police Major Ronald Lao, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Davao.
The suspects were identified as Police Staff Sergeant Elcelito Colita, 35, currently assigned at Marilog Police Station, married and resident of Km. 12, Santo Rosario, Sasa, Davao City; and Glenn Art Muring alias "Dodong," 40, jobless and a resident of Purok Santa Teresita, Buhangin, Davao City.
The suspects were arrested for selling one sachet of shabu to an operative who served as a poseur buyer in exchange for P1,500.
Also recovered were different drug paraphernalia and firearms.
Muring is among those in the intelligence watch list, while the arrested police officer was considered a high-value target.
PDEA-Davao said the policeman was a newly-identified drug suspect, while Muring was already arrested before but was released after he availed himself of plea bargaining.
The two suspects were presented Thursday, October 3, at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) conference room together with the evidence.
"Itong si Muring siya yong target dahil siya ay included sa directory for intelligence for PNP (Philippine National Police) and the team was surprised when Staff Sergeant Colita was present during the buy-bust operation. The two suspects are now under the custody of Talomo Police Station at ang police ay na-relieve na sa kanyang assignment at they will face criminal charges while the police will face administrative charges," Police Regional Office-Davao Director Marcelo Morales said.
He likewise ordered other higher officials to look out for the whereabouts of their personnel as part of their internal cleansing program.
"Sa ngayon, yong station commander ng Marilog Police Station, because of command responsibility, at yong kanyang chief ng personnel section at 'yong kanilang station executive senior police officer, ay pina-relieve ko kasi kailangan nila alam ang wheareabouts ng kanilang mga policemen at kung ano ang mga activities na kanilang ginagawa," Morales said.