PNP to probe Central Luzon drug suspects’ escape

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will step into the conflict between Central Luzon policemen and the National Capital Regional Police Office  (NCRPO) over the escape of two suspected drug pushers in Baliuag, Bulacan last week.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said yesterday he ordered an investigation into the incident.

“I gave the inspector general of the IAS (Internal Affairs Service) clear instructions. I told him to deploy investigators from the national office... the composition of investigators was revised,” Marquez said.

The NCRPO said they would file criminal and administrative charges against several Central Luzon police officers for the escape of the drug pushers.  The Central Luzon-Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) earlier filed charges against the NCRPO policemen, saying their operation was not legitimate.

Chief Inspector Kimberly Molitas, NCRPO spokesperson, gave assurance that the NCRPO would cooperate in the investigation.

NCRPO operatives said they were on a legitimate police operation after receiving information that the suspects would sell 10 kilos of shabu, but agents of the Central Luzon-RSOG intervened, and instead arrested them and their assets.

The NCRPO policemen and two civilians were released only after the intervention of their superiors.

Chief Inspector Robert Razon of the NCRPO Regional Anti-Drug Division said the Central Luzon police officers also failed to return the marked money, mobile phones, jewelry and personal  belongings of those arrested.

Drug suspect slain

As this developed, Angel Hombre, one of the top drug suspects in Quezon, was shot dead on Sunday night.

Hombre was standing in front of Linatoc Bakery in Barangay Malabanan Sur in Candelaria, Quezon when unidentified motorcycle-riding men shot him at around 7:05 p.m., said Senior Superintendent Eugenio Paguirigan, Quezon police director.

Paguirigan said more than 44 drug suspects were arrested in a series of anti-drug operations in Quezon.

Village chief nabbed

In Cabanatuan City, four persons, including a barangay chairman, were arrested in a drug sting on Friday.

Reynaldo Santos, 57, of Barangay Gomez in Gen. Llanera town; Edgar Allan Fonaciet, 34; Arnold Mateo, 45; and Maricar Madrid, 27, were collared for selling suspected shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Start Arcadia at around 7:30 p.m., said Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police acting director. 

In Bukidnon, eight self-confessed drug users and pushers surrendered to Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri yesterday.

Zubiri presented the suspects to National Bureau of Investigation Region 10 director Angelito Magno. The suspects were released because they have no outstanding arrest warrants. – With Ed Amoroso, Ric Sapnu, Gerry Lee Gorit, Ric Sapnu