3 QC cops sacked over ‘planted’ drugs

A police station commander and two of his subordinates in Quezon City were relieved of their posts on allegations that they planted evidence against a Manila barangay chair who was arrested for alleged drug possession last week.

National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina on Wednesday ordered the removal of Police Supt. Norberto Babagay from the Galas substation, along with brothers PO3 Wilberto Blanco and PO2 William Blanco of the station’s antinarcotics unit, based on a compliant filed by Eduardo Torcelino, chair of Barangay 711, Malate, Manila.

Torcelino alleged that on Oct. 5, he and a companion were at a food outlet on E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City when a group of men led by the Blancos arrested them without a warrant, took their money amounting to P170,000, and falsely charged them with possession of 15 grams of “shabu.”

A resolution later issued by Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Alessandro Jurado ordered the release of Torcelino and his companion, doubting the legality of their arrest. There were “no pre-operation or post-operation reports and no coordination (was made) with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency,” it noted.

After his release, Torcelino sought the help of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who then alerted Espina about the matter on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, a visibly irked Espina said: “I will hold accountable the immediate superior for the shenanigans of their subordinates.”

Espina ordered Babagay and the Blanco brothers placed under the Regional Personnel Holding and Administrative Unit in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending an investigation of Torcelino’s complaint.

Reached for comment, Babagay dismissed the complaint as mere harassment and “political mudslinging,” saying “I will fight to clear my name. My uniform and family’s honor is on the line.”

“I don’t know that barangay chair. I have no reason to ruin his reputation just like that,” he said.

Babagay maintained that Torcelino and his companion underwent inquest proceedings and that the prosecutor initially found probable cause to charge them with drug possession in court, with no bail recommended.

But three days later, Babagay said, the prosecutor changed his findings and said the case should be further investigated.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Mario de la Vega said Babagay and the two other policemen apparently followed due process and their being accused of planting evidence “may bring about demoralization in our ranks.”

“Our men might get scared to conduct legitimate operations if there are harassment cases like this,” De la Vega said.