‘Narco’ cop nabbed; P1.7M drugs seized
A fugitive cop who had gone absent without official leave since 2016 was arrested over drug charges Thursday afternoon in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City.
Police Officer 1 Wilfred Anding Cabillo was arrested by the operatives of Mambaling Police Station by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Anacleto Debaculos in Cebu City.
Cabillo was previously assigned at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) but went on AWOL in 2016 after he eluded arrest during a buy-bust operation.
Chief Insp. Randy Caballes, Mambaling Police Station chief, said Cabillo is considered a high-value target. His area of operation includes Mambaling and nearby barangays.
“Last year pa ni na-isyu ang iyang warrant of arrest, pero maayo man kaayo ni siya makatago maong wala pa gyud ni siya masakpi until now,” Caballes said.
He was charged with violation of Section 5 Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. Seized from Cabillo was his government issued 9-millimeter pistol loaded with magazine and nine rounds of ammunition.
Caballes said they are still checking whether the accused is also involved in other illegal activities.
“Amo pa na gisusi karon kung apil pa ba ni siya sa uban pang illegal nga kalihukan,” he said.
Meanwhile, at least P1.7 million worth of shabu were seized by the police during separate anti-drugs operations in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City yesterday evening.
The suspects were identified as Jovit Deguitos, 36, and his companion Kimberly Magpalo Pregoner, 36, all residents of Sitio Villagonzalo, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City. Also arrested during the operation was Brigido Ministerio, 27, resident of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.
Supt. Bernouli Abalos, chief of the Mandaue City Police Office-City Intelligence Branch, said Ministerio also had a transaction with Deguitos and Pregoner about the same time the buy-bust operation was conducted.
Another team of operatives led by Inspector Troy John Lalamunan of the MCPO Drug Enforcement Unit also arrested Julian Pareja Lepiten, 34, a native of Bogo City.
MCPO information officer Mercy Villaro said the arrest of Deguitos, Pregoner, and Lepiten was a result of their previous antidrugs operations. She said the names of the suspects were mentioned as source of illegal drugs, prompting them to conduct a follow up investigation.
Villaro said they are now coordinating with the Cebu City Police Office to get additional information about the suspects.
“Gipiyaet na na siya nga names before,” Villaro said.
Villaro said at least P1.7 million worth of drugs were seized from the three suspects, who are temporarily detained at the MCPO detention cell pending the filing of appropriate charges against them.