Top CIDG official held on drug raps

MABALACAT CITY, Philippines—Officials and personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) team in Pampanga province were arrested by a CIDG team from Philippine National Police headquarters in Metro Manila on Monday on charges of “recycling” at least 26 kilograms of illegal drugs seized by the police in a drug bust in the province last year.

Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, CIDG director, led the raid on the team office in Camp Tomas Pepito in Angeles City and arrested its head, Chief Insp. Bienvenido Reydado, other officers and some civilian agents.

“This is really alarming,” Magalong told a news briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. “But the important thing here is that the PNP is doing something to get rid of [erring officers] from its ranks.”

Reydado, a bemedaled officer, and his subordinates denied the accusations against them. But Magalong told reporters here that the CIDG had witnesses on the supposed illegal activities of the team personnel.

Recycling refers to the selling of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and other prohibited drugs recovered by law enforcement units in anti-illegal drugs operations.

Armed with a search warrant issued by a Quezon City court, Magalong said agents of the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Division led by Supt. Alexander Tagum raided the office of Reydado and recovered assorted firearms and explosives, which were believed to be confiscated from crime suspects and not properly turned over to the CIDG.

In a simultaneous operation, CIDG-National Capital Region Office (NCRPO) personnel headed by Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo swooped down on the group’s alleged safe house in Barangay Panginay in Balagtas town, Bulacan province, and arrested six civilian agents of the CIDG.

He identified those arrested as cousins Albert and Eric Reydado, Pedrito Tadeo, Adriano Laurete, Edwardson Sisracon and Arnold Sanggalang.

Recovered from them were five high-powered firearms, 11 handguns, a rifle grenade, assorted ammunitions and P2.6 million cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal drugs that the group had sold.

The raiders also confiscated five sports utility vehicles and two motorcycles, which the suspects allegedly used in their illicit operations.

The members of the Pampanga CIDG team were taken to Camp Crame, Quezon City, for investigation.

“Chief Inspector Reydado tried to question his arrest. But I explained to him our operation,” Tagum said.

“He actually raised his voice. His men also tried to resist, but they were immediately handcuffed,” Magalong added.

‘Agaw bato’

The CIDG chief said he authorized the operation after they received information that Reydado, a member of PNP Academy Class 1999, and the civilian agents were engaged in a modus called “agaw bato” wherein they peddle illegal drugs recovered in police operations.

Last year, Magalong said Reydado’s unit confiscated 26 kilos of shabu in a sting operation. In a subsequent operation, he said his subordinates recovered two pieces of luggage each filled with about 10 kilos of illegal drugs.

A check made by the Inquirer showed that Reydado was a recipient of 16 service medals since 2001, but he was charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act when he was assigned to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in 2003.

“Their modus is to arrest Chinese drug traffickers. But they would later free them in exchange of the illegal drugs seized from the arrested drug suspects,” Magalong said.

He said the civilian agents would then find buyers for the seized shabu, which is sold at P5 million per kilo.

Magalong said he immediately ordered the relief of Reydado and all the eight personnel of the CIDG office in Pampanga.

Senior Supt. Victor Valencia Jr., chief of CIDG Central Luzon, was also sacked for command responsibility, he added.