Cop arrested for reselling confiscated drugs
MANILA, Philippines—A bemedalled Philippine National Police official has been arrested by his colleagues for allegedly “recycling” or selling at least 26 kilograms of illegal drugs seized by the police in a drug bust in Pampanga last year.
Chief Insp. Bienvenido Reydado, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in Pampanga, was arrested by CIDG personnel inside his office at Camp Tomas Pepito in Angeles City at noon Monday.
“This is really alarming,” CIDG director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong told a news briefing at Camp Crame. “But the important thing here is that the PNP is doing something to get rid of (erring officers) in its ranks.”
Armed with a search warrant issued by a Quezon City judge, Magalong said agents of the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Division led by Supt. Alexander Tagum raided the office of Reydado and recovered assorted firearms.
In a simultaneous operation, CIDG officers from the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo, swooped down on the group’s alleged safehouse in Barangay Panginay in Balagtas town in Bulacan and arrested six civilian agents of the CIDG.
He identified those arrested as cousins Albert and Eric Reydado, Pedrito Tadeo, Adriano Laurete, Edwardson Sisracon and Arnold Sanggalang.
Recovered from them were five high-powered firearms, 11 handguns, a rifle grenade, assorted ammunition and P2.6 million in cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal drugs sold by the group.
The raiding teams also confiscated five sports utility vehiles and two motorcycles which the suspects allegedly used in their illicit operations.
“Chief Inspector Reydado tried to question his arrest. But I explained to him our operation,” Tagum said.
“He actually raised his voice. His men also tried to resist, but they were immediately handcuffed,” Magalong added.
The CIDG chief said he authorized the operation after they received information that Reydado, a member of PNP Academy Class 1999, and the civilian agents were engaged in a modus operandi called “agaw bato” in which they peddle illegal drugs recovered in police operations.
Last year, Magalong said Reydado’s unit confiscated about 26 kilos of shabu in a sting operation. In a subsequent operation, he said, the suspect’s subordinates recovered two suitcases filled with about 10 kilos of illegal drugs each.
A check made by the Inquirer showed that Reydado was a recipient of 16 service medals since 2001, but he was charged with violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act when he was assigned to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in 2003.
“Their modus is to arrest Chinese drug traffickers. But they would later free them in exchange for the illegal drugs seized from the arrested drug suspects,” Magalong said.
He said the civilian agents would then find buyers for the seized shabu, which is sold at P5 million per kilo.
Magalong said he ordered the relief of Reydado and all the eight personnel of the CIDG office in Pampanga.
Senior Supt. Victor Valencia, chief of CIDG Central Luzon, was also sacked for command responsibility, he added.
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