2 EPD cops axed

MANILA, Philippines — Two officials of the Eastern Police District (EPD) were relieved from their posts yesterday over the arrest of two policemen during a sting conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Pasig City last week.

Chief Inspector Abraham Satorre, chief of the EPD District Special Operations Unit, and Inspector Edward Olmedo, commander of the Police Community Precinct 9, were sacked for command responsibility by National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar.

Eleazar fired Satorre and Olmedo following the arrest of Police Officer 2 Marlou Roldan and PO3 Mark Vista, who were wounded in an alleged firefight with PDEA agents during a sting at a gasoline station along San Guillermo Avenue in Barangay Buting.

The PDEA reportedly confiscated around 300 grams of shabu worth P2.5 million during the operation.

Roldan, Vista and civilian Raymond Ryan Cruz were the subject of an entrapment operation by the PDEA, police said.

Roldan is being guarded by police in a Quezon City hospital. Vista is recuperating from a gunshot to the body at the Medical City.

The PDEA said it would take custody of Roldan and Vista once they are discharged from the hospital.

The two will be dismissed from the police service, according to Eleazar.

Satorre would be replaced by Chief Inspector Darwin Guerrero. Senior Inspector Mario Benito will take over the post of Olmedo. 

In Valenzuela City, six persons were arrested by the PDEA for possession of P68,000 worth of shabu on Saturday.

PDEA district officer Amir Estanislao said the suspects were the source of drugs in Barangay Gen. T. de Leon. – Rey Galupo