Cops’ lockers yield 50K cash, drugs

MANILA, Philippines–A surprise inspection conducted over the weekend in a police office at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters on UN Avenue yielded a shocking find: bundles of cash and drugs hidden inside the lockers of members of the District Anti-Illegal Drugs (DAID) unit.

The discovery made by MPD director Senior Supt. Rolando Nana himself resulted in the relief of 14 of the 15 MPD-DAID personnel led by their head, Chief Insp. Titoy Jay Cuden, on Monday. Only one personnel escaped being sanctioned as he was just recently transferred to the unit.

“Even before this discovery, we have been receiving reports of anomalous transactions at the DAID. So we decided to conduct an impromptu rank inspection on Saturday [morning]. That’s when we discovered the questionable evidence found in the lockers of these police officers,” Nana said.

The “questionable evidence” he was referring to included an undetermined volume of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” marijuana leaves and drug paraphernalia. One of the lockers also yielded P50,000 in cash.

“If these are pieces of evidence for a crime or raid, they should not have been in the personal lockers of the police officers,” he added.

“They should have declared [these] and turned [them] over to the crime laboratory for proper processing. These officers have been in that office for months, if not years. They already know the procedure for these things,” Nana said.

Investigators have yet to determine the source of the money and drugs which have since been turned over to the crime laboratory for proper processing.

Nana also ordered the confiscation of the service firearms of the accused policemen and their reassignment to the MPD holding group.

The lawmen, whose identities have not been disclosed except for Cuden, will be given the chance to explain their side and clear their name, he said.

“Right now, we are waiting for the results of the crime laboratory investigation, as well as the drug tests of the 14 policemen,” Nana explained, adding, “They could be charged with criminal cases such as possession of illegal drugs and administrative cases such as grave misconduct if their guilt is proven in the investigation.”

Nana also maintained that the case was an isolated incident and would not affect the morale of the majority of MPD members.

“This is part of our intensified campaign against illegal drugs which includes cleaning up our ranks. The police should do their jobs as expected of them. If the public know that some of our ranks are involved in wrongdoing, they should report it to us. Rest assured that we [will] continue to do our job here,” he said.