4 anti-drug cops held in Subic shabu raid

MANILA, Philippines — Four members of the Olongapo City police drug enforcement unit were among five persons arrested during a raid on a kitchen-type shabu laboratory in a two-story house at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone yesterday.

Lt. Reynato Basa Jr., Cpls. Gino dela Cruz, Edesyr Victor Alipio and Godfrey Parentela and civilian Jericho Dabu were arrested.

Authorities said a manhunt for Canadian citizen Timothy Hartley and another suspect, who escaped when law enforcers entered the house, is underway.

The four police officers are said to be Hartley’s protectors.

Dabu is said to be associated with other foreigners involved in illegal drugs.

At least 300 grams of shabu valued at P2.04 million, five cell phones, guns, shabu laboratory equipment and a Honda Civic were reportedly recovered from the suspects.

Authorities said the makeshift laboratory could produce up to four kilos of shabu a day.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas ordered the four police officers, whom he described as “rotten to the core,” disarmed and placed under restrictive custody.

“I will do everything within my authority under existing PNP regulations to ensure the successful prosecution of these people,” Sinas said.

He ordered drug testing of all police officers in Olongapo.

Director Adrian Alvarino, head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency office in Metro Manila, said anti-narcotics agents discovered the shabu laboratory after Dabu, who was the target of the operation, ran toward the house. – Bebot Sison, Ric Sapnu