Cop busted in Muntinlupa drug sting

MANILA, Philippines – A police officer was arrested by his colleagues during a drug buy-bust operation Monday night in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City.

The Philippine National Police – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) on Tuesday identified the rogue police officer as Pat. Leo Valdez of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office.

Valdez was arrested by operatives of the PNP-IMEG and the Intelligence Group in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at about 10:05 p.m. on Monday after allegedly receiving P1,000 from an undercover buyer in exchange of four sachets of suspected shabu.

A report from the PNP-IMEG said the operation stemmed from various reports on Valdez’s involvement in the drug trade in the area.

Police said the suspect entered the PNP in 2007 but went on Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) status in 2014 due to alleged illegal drug use.

He was reinstated in 2017.

The PNP-IMEG added that Valdez was even seen in videos allegedly using shabu on two occasions.

He is now detained at the PNP-IMEG office at Camp Crame, Quezon City as criminal and administrative charges are being readied against him.  /gsg