Three Quezon City policemen were relieved of their posts pending an investigation into the escape of two drug suspects who were under their watch on Wednesday.
Police Officers 1 Nestor Bernal, Leo Andres and Jayson Gazzingan, all assigned to the antidrug unit of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Batasan station, were reassigned on Friday to the District Headquarters Support Unit by Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, QCPD director.
The two fugitives, namely Jeon Taek-sang, a 48-year-old Korean national, and Bobby Ortalla, were recaptured after a manhunt was launched against them.
P100K ‘shabu’ bust
The pair were initially arrested in a drug bust on Tuesday night in Barangay Old Balara with P100,000 worth of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
On Wednesday morning, the police escorts brought the suspects to Quezon City General Hospital for a physical examination.
Gazzingan had reportedly stayed inside the patrol car, Eleazar said.
Once inside the hospital, Bernal had to urinate, leaving Andres with the suspects, who were cuffed together.
Manhunt
A hospital staff, however, had then asked Andres to secure patient identification cards for the two men, who were left at the surgery station and later fled.
Ortalla was immediately recaptured hours after, while a manhunt was immediately launched against Jeon, in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, he was finally collared at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Don Antonio Drive in Barangay Holy Spirit.
Authorities had received a tip from a female agent that Jeon had offered her a drug session in exchange for a sexual favor, Eleazar said.
Casino player
Seized from him were three syringes with suspected liquified shabu, as well as a plastic sachet of the illegal drug weighing 10 grams and estimated to be worth P60,000.
Investigation showed that the foreigner had been in the country for four years but only stayed in cheap motels and friends’ houses in different cities.
His family in South Korea had supposedly been sending him money from time to time, but he had also been asking for cash from friends to support his vices.
Police said he also frequented casinos and e-game establishments, where he reportedly started his illegal activities peddling party drugs to prostitutes.
In April 2016, Jeon was also arrested by the Quezon City police for use and possession of illegal drugs, but was released after posting bail.