Dismissed policeman nabbed for selling drugs in Liloan town

A former policeman who was dismissed from the service after making a scene inside a passenger vessel more than two years ago was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Liloan town, northern Cebu.

Rodelo Pana Pilapil Jr. and his alleged cohort Jeffrey Tabla Otaza, both residents of barangay Bag-ong Dan, Liloan town, were arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA) after they allegedly sold a pack of suspected shabu worth P300 to a poseur-buyer Monday night.

Pilapil, then assigned in Bogo City, northern Cebu, was arrested by fellow policemen when he created a commotion inside a Leyte-bound passenger vessel in October 2010.

Pilapil was drunk during the incident where he took off his pants and underwear while holding a loaded 9mm pistol.

Pilapil was not in uniform during the incident.

Aside from an administrative case, Pilapil was also charged with a criminal case.

The incident happened during an election gun ban where policemen are not allowed to carry firearms when in civilian attire.

Pilapil said he was only on absent without leave (AWOL).

But Jessie Tabanao, information officer of PDEA, said they were informed that Pilapil was already been dismissed from service.

Tabanao said a PDEA agent met Pilapil to buy a pack of shabu past 6 p.m. Monday.

Tabanao said Pilapil handed a pack of shabu to Otaza, who then gave the illegal drugs to the poseur-buyer.

Pilapil later entered a house and left Otaza behind.

PDEA said Otaza noticed that it was a buy-bust and shouted “gobyerno!”

Tabano said an armed Pilapil emerged from the house and fired a shot.

Luckily, no one was hit.

Tabanao said Pilapil tried to fire more shots but the gun malfunctioned.

Pilapil threw away the .45 caliber pistol and ran along with Otaza.

Three PDEA agents blocked the two men at the back of the house and arrested them.

Three packs of supected shabu were seized from the two men, Tabanao said.

Tabanao said they believed that Pilapil had just started selling shabu and could not be considered a big-time pusher yet.

Tabanao said Pilapil was also reportedly involved in selling firearms.