AWOL cop nabbed in North Cotabato drug buy-bust

PIKIT, North Cotabato  – Anti-narcotics operatives and the police arrested on Saturday a police officer who was on unofficial leave during drug buy-bust operation here.

Naravy Duquiatan, regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for Region 12, said Ruel Pilipinas, 47, a resident of Barangay Poblacion in Pikit, was arrested after he handed over a huge sachet of shabu with an estimated market value of P6,800 to a PDEA undercover agent.

Pilipinas, also known as “Weng-Weng,” did not resist arrest when PDEA operatives showed up in his home where the illegal transaction took place at 12:30 p.m.

The suspect, who holds a rank of Police Officer 1 (PO1), was absent without official leave (AWOL) from the police organization.

He was in the list of PDEA’s drug personalities operating in North Cotabato and is considered a high-value target.

Duquiatan said nine sachets of shabu, an ammunition for caliber .50 machine gun, and other shabu paraphernalia were recovered from Pilipinas.

“The suspect is known in the community as a notorious drug trafficker and he uses his house as a drug den,” Duquiatan said.

“He is also considered as a high-value target because of his association with a known drug group in the area,” she said. Pilipinas was also in President Duterte’s list of alleged “ninja cops.”

Now detained at Pikit PNP lock up cell, Pilipinas is facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), and the Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Explosives and Ammunition). /ee