Cop nabbed for ‘pot’

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A rookie policeman landed in jail after he was allegedly caught in a pot session in this city on Saturday.

Pat. Bryn Jepthah Gimotea, 32, of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, was arrested by his fellow officer in his boarding house on Lacson street, according to Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, spokesman for the Bacolod City police.

Pico said Gimotea yielded two sticks of marijuana.

Gimotea was subjected to a drug test.

The marijuana sticks were taken to the police crime laboratory for analysis.

Police are preparing administrative and criminal charges against Gimotea.

Meanwhile, an alleged employee of the Land Transportation Office was arrested in a sting in Zamboanga City.

Police said Jasim Abdua, alias Bembo, 50, yielded 16 sachets containing shabu with an estimated street value of P170,000.

Aside from Abdua, six other drug suspects were arrested in separate police operations in Zamboanga peninsula, according to Brig. Gen. Froilan Quidilla, regional police director.

Quidilla attributed the success of the operations to a hotline, which enabled residents to report illegal drug activities to the police. – Roel Pareño