10 more cops monitored for illegal drug trade

FOLLOWING the arrest of an active police officer assigned in Marilog, Davao City, authorities said they are now monitoring 10 more cops, including three police officials, who are involved in the illegal drug trade.

Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2019, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Region director Police Brigadier General Marcelo Morales bared that there are seven police non-commissioned officer and three commissioned officers whom they are monitoring right now in the region.

“May mga raw information din na may mga bagong names ng mga PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel na allegedly involved din sa illegal drugs activities so mino-monitor naming lahat yon,” Morales said.

He, however, refused to divulge the unit that these policemen are assigned to, so as not to compromise the ongoing surveillance and case build-up.

Earlier, an erring cop identified as Police Staff Sergeant Elcelito Colita, 35, and his alleged cohort Glenn Art Muring alias "Dodong," 40, were arrested in an entrapment operation Wednesday night, October 2.

“Wala pa sa watchlist namin itong si Colita. Ngayon lang siya lumutang pero may mga raw information na na dig-up ang Talomo Police Station noon pa na ‘yong pangalan nito ay involved hindi lang na-develop until last night,” Morales said.

After the incident, he immediately ordered the relief of the station commander of Marilog Police Station and the brother of Muring who is a police official for failure to monitor the activities of the suspects.

“Yong mga station commanders ay binabalaan ko to closely monitor your personnel because you are responsible kung ano ‘yong mga activities na ginagawa ng mga tauhan ninyo. You will be charged administratively kung ito ay na-involved sa mga heinous crimes or mga illegal drug operations,” Morales said.