2 cops hunted after being found guilty of protecting shabu lab in La Union

Chief Supt. Benito Estipona. PHOTO FROM PNPSPD.ORG

MANILA, Philippines—Tracker teams are now being formed to arrest a ranking police official and a non-commissioned officer who were found guilty by a court in La Union of “protecting” a laboratory for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon regional director, said units are being formed to arrest Superintendent Dionisio Borromeo, the current assistant provincial director for administration of Cavite police, after Judge Ferdinand Fe of Branch 67 of the Regional Trial Court of Bauang, La Union found him guilty of
protecting a shabu laboratory in Bimmotobot, Naguilian, La Union that was raided in 2008.

Along with Borromeo, Fe also gave a guilty verdict on non-commissioned officer Police Officer 3 Joey Abang.

“The provincial director has a direct contact on Borromeo, but tracker teams were, nonetheless, formed to conduct his arrest as soon as the
signed order is received,” Estipona said of Borromeo who went on a sick leave since Monday.

“Isasama na rin si Abang pag na-receive na rin naming papers niya (Abang will be included when the papers come in),” he said.

In a phone patch interview with Camp Crame reporters, Fe cited his 61-page decision which said that Borromeo was sentenced to life imprisonment and slapped with P10-million penalty, while Abang was sentenced to imprisonment of no less than 12 years and one day, but a maximum
of 20 years. He is also ordered to pay a P500,000 fine.

“Wala naman siyang iprinisenta na magsusuporta doon sa denial nya…Dineny nya na isa isa yung mga paratang sa kanya pero other than those denials wala na po (He present no evidence to support his denial…he denied all the charges against him point by point but other than those he failed to support them),” Fe said.

He said the pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution panel were “overwhelming.”

For his part, PNP spokesman, Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., said this case brought a strong message to the public that “there is no sacred cow” when it comes to the implementation of drug laws.

In another development, Cerbo said Borromeo has been relieved from his position, while his dismissal papers are already being prepared.