Cop caught with shabu faces ax

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) yesterday ordered the relief of a policeman who was arrested for alleged possession of shabu and drug paraphernalia in Tondo, Manila.

Police Officer 1 Reygie Celso, 38, of Navotas City, and assigned with the Southern Police District Mobile Force Battalion (SPD-DMFB), was relieved from his post by NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar.

Celso was reassigned to the NCRPO Regional Police Holding and Administrative Unit on floating status.

Eleazar also ordered the relief of Inspector Florante Farañal, Celso’s immediate supervisor, for command responsibility.

“We are implementing a one-strike policy against police officials whose men are into drugs,” Eleazar said. “While we are conducting a relentless campaign against illegal drugs, we are also cleansing our ranks of policemen who are hooked on drugs.”

Members of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1 in Raxabago, Tondo were conducting anti-crime operations along Interior Osorio street when they received information about a drug session on Saturday night.

Policemen were about to proceed to the site when they saw Celso on the street.

When frisked by Chief Inspector Manny Israel, Celso allegedly yielded a sachet of shabu, an improvised aluminum foil tooter and a strip of aluminum foil.

During questioning, Celso identified himself as a lawman and presented his police ID, according to MPD director Chief Superintendent Rolando Anduyan.

Dismissed, reinstated

SPD director Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario said Celso was previously assigned with the NCRPO Regional Mobile Force Batallion (RMFB) when he was dismissed from the police service after being listed as AWOL or absent without leave.

Celso was reinstated in 2017 and reassigned to the SPD District Police Holding and Administrative Service on May 9.

He was assigned to the DFMB on July 5.

Anduyan said Celso had been arrested in Manila for threatening a minor with a gun earlier this year, but he was released from police custody due to the lack of a complainant.

Celso is being held at the MPD headquarters on drug charges pending his transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.– With Rey Galupo