'I was ambushed after texting EPD chief about drug trade'

MANILA, Philippines – Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles said he was ambushed 14 hours after he sent a text message to Eastern Police District (EPD) director Senior Superintendent Francisco Manalo about the proliferation of drugs in Pasig City.

In an e-mail to Malacañang reporters before he underwent another surgery at the Pasig City General Hospital, Angeles said he informed the EPD chief that he received information that the Pasig police and the EDP were being tagged in the illegal drug trade.

Angeles said he was hoping to get a clarification, but Manalo just replied with “tnx4 d info.”

“I was shot by a group of men led by the very subject that I reported to him (Manalo). Interesting how that very subject Faisal (Sancopan) traced the leak of such information,” he said.

Angeles had told his wife as he was being wheeled into the operating room that a certain Faisal led a group of armed men who attacked him last March 11.

“My text to Manalo somehow said Pasig PNP just arrested drug personality Faisal and seized half-a-kilo of shabu, P850 cash, two high-end firearms etc.,” Angeles wrote, adding Faisal also “paid 500k for his freedom.”

He said he also learned that Faisal “helped the cops turn seized drugs into cash by brokering deals.”

With regard to the arrest warrant, police said they would serve once he is out of the hospital, Angeles said: “They should have arrested me long ago kung tunay iyun (if it’s true). That cheap trick must have been related to the columns I wrote (for the defunct Philippine Gazette and OpinYon) on how dirty Pasig PNP is,” Angeles said.