Background check on PNP crime lab officers bucked

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory yesterday rejected calls to have his personnel and officers investigated in the wake of the arrest of an official of the Muntinlupa police , who tested positive for drugs.

“It’s just an isolated case,” PNP Crime Laboratory chief Superintendent Aurelio Trampe said when asked if there is a need to review the background of his men.

The PNP Crime Laboratory has at least 1,300 officers and personnel nationwide. It needs around 2,000 people to address the demand of the crime scene investigations.

Trampe was referring to the case of Superintendent Lito Cabamongan, chief of the Muntinlupa police’s crime laboratory satellite office, who was caught along with Nedy Sabdao in a drug session in Las Piñas City last Thursday.

Both Cabamongan and Sabdao tested positive for drugs during initial testing. They were subjected to confirmatory tests and the results will be known this week.

Cabamongan tagged a fellow law enforcer, Chief Inspector Joselito Savares, as his alleged shabu supplier.

Trampe said before Cabamongan was arrested for drugs, he tasked Savares to validate the negative information about the officer.

Savares, chief of the PNP Crime Laboratory intelligence division, said they received reports that Cabamongan has been texting one of their doctors, asking for a date.

He denied having any knowledge about Cabamongan’s previous drug activities.

““We did not receive any report with regard to his involvement in drugs,” Savares said.