ROXAS CITY, Philippines – Police here have arrested a dismissed policeman and his brother for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Superintendent Kashmir Disomangcop, Roxas police chief, identified the suspects as former Police Officer 1 Chester Cordovero and brother, Ricky, residents of Mckinley Street in Barangay 1, Roxas City.
The suspects were arrested Tuesday in separate raids on their respective houses conducted by the Roxas police based on the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Edward Contreras dated April 29, 2011.
The police recovered from Chester’s house 17 clear plastic sachet containing suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride), marked money used in the buy-bust operation, a .45 caliber Colt Mark IV, two magazines for a .45 cal. firearm with six live ammunition, one .22 cal. air gun, a .22 cal. Magnum Smith and Wesson with five live ammunition, two 5.56 mm live ammunition, a Philippine National Police badge and identification card and a cellular phone, among other items.
The police also confiscated 10 clear plastic sachets with traces of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), 134 disposable lighters and 37 small pieces of aluminum foil from the house of Ricky.
Ricky, whose house is adjacent to Chester’s, admitted using shabu, but denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Chester joined the police service in 1995 and was a member of the Provincial Special Operations Group of the Capiz Police Provincial Office. His last assignment prior to his dismissal was at the Aviation Security Group of the Roxas City Airport as detached service officer.
In 2007, he was marked absent without leave and was finally dismissed from the service only last year.
The two were detained at the lock-up cell of the Roxas police station while the recovered items were brought to PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City for examination.