QCPD sacks 88 ‘narco-cops’

The Quezon City Police District yesterday relieved 88 policemen detailed at the QCPD’s two anti-drug units after a police official allegedly involved in recycling shabu was killed in a sting.

QCPD director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said the police officers were relieved from their posts to give way to “new blood” in the district’s anti-illegal drug units as part of the government’s war on drugs.

Eleazar said all 35 members of the District Anti-Illegal DrugSpecial Operations Task Group (DAID-SOTG) were sacked after its team leader, Senior Inspector Ramon Catillo, 47, was shot dead when he reportedly sold shabu to undercover police officers on Tuesday.

Police said they recovered from Catillo some 200 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P1 million.

Eleazar said the unit would no longer be effective in conducting anti-drug operations after its leader was linked to illegal drug deals.

Superintendent Kinhunde Tul-O will head the DAID-SOTG.

Eleazar said 53 members of the Batasan police anti-illegal drug unit were also relieved from their posts after two of its personnel allegedly received bribe money from an arrested drug suspect last week.

QCPD Station 6 commander Superintendent Lito Patay recommended the relief of the police officers.

The sacked policemen were transferred to the District Headquarters Support Unit while being investigated for their alleged involvement in drug deals, Eleazar said.

“This is part of the renewed effort of the QCPD to cleanse its ranks,” he said.

2 cops test positive for drugs

Meanwhile, two members of the Eastern Police District (EPD) have been found positive for drug use.

EPD director Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said the two police officers were among the 2,700 policemen who underwent random drug testing recently.

Sapitula withheld the names of the two policemen pending results of confirmatory drug tests.

5 held in stings

Police also arrested five persons in separate anti-drug operations in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Rodencio Tabug, 42, and Venus Tabug, 55, were apprehended in a drug sting in Diliman.

Police said they recovered from the suspects two sachets of shabu and P200 in marked money.

Hardy Placido was caught with a sachet of shabu in a sting outside his house in Barangay Sta. Teresita, police said.

Arny Andrino was arrested along Dr. Lascano in Barangay Paligsahan. He allegedly yielded a packet of shabu and a 13-inch knife.

Officials of Barangay Bagbag caught a 16-year-old boy while engaged in a drug deal with another man, who eluded arrest.

Police said they recovered a sachet of shabu from the boy, who was turned over to the city social welfare department.

Authorities said 38 drug users surrendered to police during the implementation of Oplan Tokhang in Barangay Sto. Niño.

Drug rehab centers

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is converting some of its training centers into drug rehabilitation centers to accommodate the growing number of drug users who are turning themselves in to police.

TESDA deputy director general Rosanna Urdaneta said they offered the training centers for the government’s drug rehabilitation program.

Urdaneta said they would provide skills training to those who surrendered after they have completed the rehabilitation program.