MANILA -- Authorities nabbed a police officer in a buy-bust operation in Muntinlupa City on Monday.
In a briefing in Camp Crame Tuesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde presented Pat. Leo Valdez to the media.
Valdez was arrested after selling illegal drugs to a poseur buyer along PNR site, Marquez Compound in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City.
“Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Paano ka naging pulis adik ka? Wala ka bang mga anak? Nakakahiya ka! Tapos pag napapahiya kayo, kayo pa ang galit. Pero sa ginagawa ninyo, sino ang napapahiya kayo o ang PNP? (You’re shameless. How did you become a police officer when you are a drug addict? Don't you have kids? Shame on you! And then when you’re put to shame, you even have the guts to get angry. But with what you do, who do you think looks shameful? Is it you or the PNP?)” Albayalde said.
Recently, Valdez was monitored and caught on video sniffing shabu on two occasions by the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), hence the conduct of the operation.
“Sino pa ang kasamahan mo dyan (sa video)? Sigurado may mga ka-batch ka na kasama mo din, sabihin mo na kung sino kung ako sayo (Who are your cohorts in the video? I'm sure you have batch-mates who are also in the video. If I were you, I will tell it all),” Albayalde added.
Albayalde said the operation stemmed from an intelligence packet developed by IMEG based from various reports on the rampant involvement of the police non-commissioned officer (PNCO) in drug pushing and use of shabu in the area.
Validation conducted revealed that suspect, who is a PNCO, has long been involved in illegal drugs.
He entered the PNP service in 2007 but went absent without official leave (AWOL) in 2014 due to alleged use of illegal drugs. He was reinstated in 2017 and presently assigned with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office.
Albayalde said the PNP will ensure Valdez will rot in jail.
The arrested suspect was brought and placed under the custody of IMEG for further investigation and proper disposition prior for the filing of appropriate administrative and criminal charges.
The country's top cop, meanwhile, reiterated that he would never tolerate illegal acts or wrongdoings committed by anyone within their ranks.
“I reiterate my directive to all PNP personnel to refrain from committing illegal activities. To those who will continue to disregard my directives, we will ensure that we will throw the full force of the law on you,” Albayalde said.
As of August 30, 2019, 727 active policemen remain on the PNP drug watch list while 391 active cops are on President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of drug personalities.
The IMEG, as the primary unit for information gathering and conduct of offensive operations against erring police personnel, has arrested over 200 cops for various offenses. (PNA)
