Cop, 2 others arrested in Mabalacat drug bust

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - A police officer currently detailed at the Arayat Police Station, along with two other suspected drug personalities were arrested by personnel of Mabalacat police station during an anti-illegal drug operation conducted in Barangay Dau, Mabalacat City.

Police Regional Office III Regional Director Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus identified the uniformed personnel as Police Officer 1 Kevin Pierre Apostol alias “Apo”, 29, and two other suspects namely Angel Pabilonia alias “Bench”, 39, and Donato Felipe alias “Don-don”, 22.

The three were arrested in a private subdivision in said city after they allegedly sold methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) to a police agent, Corpus said.

Seized from the suspects were nine sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P5,000, P500 marked money used in the operation, a 9mm pistol service gun, live ammunition, drug paraphernalia and personal belongings.

The suspects will individually be facing charges for violation of Section 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act and Omnibus Election Code on gun ban.

Corpus said Apostol will also be facing administrative charges and will be immediately dismissed from service for his involvement in illegal drugs.

“This move of filing charges, disciplining and dismissing erring police personnel shows efforts of the PNP in removing bad eggs in the police force, and that the rule of law does not distinguish rank, position or popularity whether victim or respondent in the PNP organization. This is a clear manifestation of our keen determination to remove misfits among the ranks of our organization," Corpus said.