2 cops caught in drug session with Chua slay suspect

Two Caloocan City policemen were arrested on Wednesday along with the suspect in the robbery and killing of fashion designer Kenneth Chua in Makati City after the three were caught having a drug session.

PO2 Danbeth Valida Geronga and PO1 Ryan Sergio Tabudlong also tried to stop fellow lawmen from taking Rogelio Aquiat, 46, the Camarin resident tagged in the Chua case, according to the chief of the Makati police.

Tabudlong even drew his gun but was overpowered by the arresting team from the Makati police, Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban said in an interview with the Inquirer on Thursday.

“The operatives knocked on the door and asked if Aquiat was inside. After getting an answer, they barged in and found the suspect with the two other men,” Lukban said. “They were in a ‘shabu’ session at the suspect’s residence.”

Geronga was assigned to the Caloocan police headquarters while Tabudlong had been suspended from work due to drug-related charges, he added.

The two policemen were brought to the Makati police together with Aquiat, a master cutter who once worked for Chua at his shop.

Chua, 38, was found dead with five stab wounds in the body, his neck also slashed and his hands bound, shortly before noon on Tuesday at his house in Barangay (village) Palanan, Makati City.

Investigators later learned that the victim’s missing automated teller machine (ATM) card was used to withdraw P20,000 around 4 a.m. the same day. They also obtained security camera footage of the ATM booth showing Aquiat as the card user.

Lukban said he deferred the announcement of Tabudlong and Geronga’s arrest for the investigation to first check if they also had a hand in Chua’s death.

“We are convinced that they have no connection to the killing and that they were just at the suspect’s house at the time of the arrest,” he said. “We are preparing to file multiple charges against these policemen, from obstruction of justice to possession of illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms.”