Memo links Olongapo cop chief to drug bribery

OLONGAPO CITY—A report by a police official in Central Luzon linked this city’s police chief to a drug-related bribery case, saying the official had tolerated the illegal activities of his men.

In an Oct. 8 memorandum to Chief Supt. Edgardo Ladao, regional police chief, Senior Supt. Joseph Tabago Ramac said the illegal activities at the Olongapo City police office were “being tolerated by [city police chief] Senior Supt. Christopher Tambungan … when he received P10,000 as his share” in bribe money in exchange for the settlement of an illegal drugs case.

Ramac, in his memo, said this showed that Tambungan “either failed to monitor or tolerated the illegal activities.” Tambungan on Thursday refused to comment, saying he has yet to see Ramac’s memorandum.

Ramac said the P50,000 shared by Olongapo policemen, including Tambungan, came from two drug suspects last July.

Ramac cited the case actor Jake Vargas’ relatives, who fell victim to Tambungan’s men.

Mayor James Gordon Jr. had asked Interior Secretary Mar Roxas  to step in on the case.

Vargas’ brother, Joseph, sued the policemen at the city prosecutor’s office last month.

The complaint said the policemen barged into the Vargas home in Barangay New Cabalan on Sept. 5 and arrested him and his wife, Jonalyn, purportedly for holding a pot session. The policemen demanded P200,000. Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon