Top cop convicted for protecting shabu lab surrenders
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ANILA, Philippines—Superintendent Dionisio Borromeo, the former assistant provincial director for administration of Cavite police, who was sentenced with life imprisonment for protecting a shabu laboratory in La Union, has surrendered himself to authorities, police said Thursday.
Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon regional director, said Borromeo surrendered himself around 5 p.m. Wednesday after he was contacted by Senior Superintendent Alexander Rafael, Cavite provincial director about the decision of Branch 67 of the Regional Trial Court of Bauang, La Union on a drug case he was involved in.
Judge Ferdinand Fe found him guilty of protecting a shabu laboratory in Bimmotobot, Naguilian, La Union that was raided back in 2008.
“May sakit s’ya [Borromeo] kaya hindi sya nakapasok since Monday. Then kahapon, upon the instruction, kinontak s’ya ng PD [Rafael] so nagpakita naman sya agad at saka submitted himself,” Estipona said, noting that he surrendered even before the copy of the arrest order was received.
The copy of the arrest order was received through fax around 10 a.m. Thursday.
He said Borromeo is now under the custody of the Cavite Provincial Police Office. Along with Borromeo, Fe also gave a guilty verdict on non-commissioned officer, Police Officer 3 Joey Abang.
Aside from life imprisonment, Borromeo was also slapped with a P10-million penalty, while Abang was sentenced with imprisonment that is no less than 12 years and one day, but a maximum of 20 years. He is also made to pay a P500,000 fine.
Supt. Rommel Estolano, Cavite police spokesman, said Borromeo will be turned over to the court of origin in La Union on Monday.
Fe earlier said the evidences presented by the prosecution panel were “overwhelming,” while Borromeo wasn’t able to present evidences to support his denial.
