Munti crime lab chief caught using drugs
A ranking official of the Muntinlupa police was arrested along with a female companion while in a drug session at a house in Las Piñas City yesterday morning.
Superintendent Lito Cabamongan, 50, who heads the city police’s Crime Laboratory in Alabang, was apprehended along with Nedy Sabdao, 44, at Everlasting Homes in Talon Kuatro at around 5:30 a.m., said National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde.
The two were caught after the Las Piñas police received a tip from a concerned citizen about Cabamongan and Sabdao’s drug session, he added.
Recovered from the crime scene were three sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.
Cabamongan denied the allegations, saying he was there to do an anti-drug operation against Sabdao, who said they were indeed using shabu they bought for P200 when they were arrested.
Albayalde said Cabamongan was arrested earlier this month for threatening a mall’s customer relations officer so he could watch a movie for free.
Albayalde said that Cabamongan will be automatically relieved from his post because of the charges filed against him.
Irate Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa cursed at Cabamongan, saying he was greatly disappointed by what the PNP official had done.
He said he will order the police to conduct an investigation about the two other police officers identified by Cabamongan, one for drug links and another over forged documents.
The Muntinlupa police deFormer nied Cabamongan’s claim that he was ordered to conduct an anti-drug operation.
PNP Crime Laboratory head Chief Superintendent Aurelio Trampe denied Cabamongan’s claim that he allowed the official to operate as a deep penetration agent.
As an officer of the crime laboratory, Cabamongan is not authorized to conduct surveillance on drug suspects.
“I never sanctioned that. I told him not to operate on his own but to coordinate with the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group),” Trampe said in a text message.
Cabamongan was brought to the Crime Laboratory head office at Camp Crame, where he underwent drug testing.
Cabamongan, in handcuffs, told reporters his rights were being violated.
“My arms are aching,” he said.