Taguig cop surrenders, admits drug use

MANILA, Philippines - A Taguig policeman surrendered to the Quezon City Police District on Sunday after his colleagues at the QCPD visited his home as part of Oplan Tokhang.

Polife Officer 3 Liberato Calda presented himself to Superintendent Lito Patay, Batasan police station commander, but initially denied being involved in the illegal drug trade.

He initially told Patay that a barangay official may have given the QCPD the wrong information due to their land dispute.

However, he tested positive for shabu when he agreed to be tested on the spot and undergo another drug test at the QCPD Crime Laboratory.

He later admitted that he stopped using illegal drugs at least three months ago.

Calda, 68th in the Batasan police station’s watchlist, was visited by his fellow policemen during the implementation of Oplan Tokhang on Aug. 18. The operation plan involves visiting the homes of suspected drug pushers and users and asking them to change their ways.

The results of a confirmatory test at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame are pending. If he fails this test, he faces dismissal from the service, police said.

Calda was last detailed at the Police Community Precinct 5 in Ibayo Tipas as a beat patroller. He was formerly assigned to the Special Action Force as well as other units of the Taguig police.

9 suspects nabbed in Quezon City

Meanwhile, nine other drug suspects were arrested in separate operations in Quezon City since Sunday.

Marissa Villanueva, 54, and Evangeline Pacheco, 47, were arrested along Imperial street in Barangay E. Rodriguez at around 1 a.m.

They yielded 14 sachets of shabu and P500 in marked money during the sting.

Liza Elag, 35, and Marvin David, were nabbed in Barangay Socorro with four sachets of shabu and P300 in marked money at around 1:15 a.m.

Pamfilo Querubin III, 30, was arrested with two sachets of shabu and P200 in marked money along F. Castillo street in Barangay Bagumbuhay at around 2:15 a.m.

Mor Tamayo was arrested with two sachets of shabu at Gana Compound in Barangay Unang Sigaw at around 5:30 p.m.

Police responded to reports of illegal gambling in the area and found several other men with Tamayo.

Tamayo’s cohorts allegedly fled while he surrendered to police with the recovered evidence.

Two other drug suspects were arrested during an anti-crime drive in Barangay Bagong Silangan at around 2 a.m. yesterday.

Noel Cadorna, 42, and Arvin Jay Adipen, 34, were arrested with two small sachets of shabu.

A 16-year-old girl was caught with 12 sachets of marijuana when she was apprehended for violating curfew along Ibong Pilak Kaliwa street in Barangay Sta. Monica at around 1 a.m.

Five drug users and pushers also surrendered themselves at the Galas police station.