3 cops, pal nabbed in Cavite drug bust; P1.4-M ‘shabu’ seized
LUCENA CITY – Three police officers and a civilian were arrested on Wednesday (Feb. 1) after they allegedly yielded more than P1.4 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) in a buy-bust operation in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province, authorities said.
In a report Thursday, Col. Christopher Olazo, Cavite police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Corporal Christian Arjul Monteverde, 35; Staff Sergeant Tomas Dela Rea Jr., 34; Patrolman Jeru Set, all assigned to the local police station; and Jorilyn Ambrad, 22, a city resident.
The suspects were collared by anti-narcotics operatives in Barangay Salitran 2 at 11:15 a.m.
Set tried to escape aboard a sports utility vehicle but was eventually arrested after a hot pursuit operation that ended in Barangay Sta. Cruz.
Authorities confiscated from the suspects a total of 210 grams of meth with a street value of P1,431,600 and 10 mobile phones.
Also confiscated were the suspects’ service firearms, which include a caliber .45 pistol with four magazines and 34 bullets, and a caliber 9mm pistol loaded with 12 bullets.
Police were tracking the source of the illegal drugs.
Authorities classified the three cops as “HVI” or high-value individuals in the local drug scene.
The suspects were detained and will be subjected to a drug test. They will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165 for possessing and selling dangerous drugs. INQ
