Cop caught using motorcycle seized in drug sting

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer was apprehended after he was caught using a motorcycle confiscated during a drug bust in Marikina City on Tuesday.

Pat. Orlando Perez, 43, assigned with the Metro Manila police drug enforcement unit (DEU), was nabbed by agents of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) in Barangay Calumpang.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Debold Sinas yesterday ordered the relief of all DEU personnel following the arrest of Perez.

“They will be subjected to a drug testing today,” Sinas told reporters.

The operation stemmed from an information that Perez has been using a Yamaha Mio motorcycle seized from a suspected drug dealer on April 5, IMEG director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee said.

Police officers are not allowed to use stolen vehicles seized from law enforcement operations for personal use.

Instead of including the vehicle in the list of recovered evidence, Lee said Perez used the motorcycle.

 “There will be no respite in the crackdown on police scalawags amid the enhanced community quarantine,” Lee said.

He said criminal and administrative charges would be filed against Perez.