Cop and ex-cop fall in buy-bust

The proverbial long arm of the law ironically caught two men, whose line of work is to arrest offenders.

Operatives of the Vice Control Section (VCS) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) collared an active duty policeman and a former policeman for allegedly peddling illegal drugs, Tuesday afternoon in barangay Mambaling.

Acting CCPO director Supt. Melvin Gayotin presented the suspects to the media yesterday.

They were identified as PO1 Aldwin Vicada, 31, assigned at Station 6 in barangay San Nicolas, and former Police Officer 1 John Rey Mendoza Catiri.

Confiscated from the suspects were 50 grams of shabu with a street value of P450,000.

Catiri was formerly detailed with the Regional Mobile Group based in Sibonga town. He has been declared Absent Without Office Leave (AWOL) since 2001.

Catiri was arrested by operatives of Vice Control Section led by Senior Inspector George Ylanan during a buy-bust operation.

Ylanan said that a policewoman negotiated with the suspects via cellular phone for the purchase of shabu. They started negotiationg last Monday, but the deal fell through only last Tuesday when they agreed on a price of P28,000 for a pack of shabu that sells at P45,000 on the streets.

PO3 Vilma Abayan of the VCS, who was the poseur buyer, agreed with the suspects that she would buy the drugs late Tuesday afternoon.

The policewoman was onboard a taxi driven by another policeman for the sting operation when Catiri allegedly approached them and handed a plastic bag believed to contain the illegal drugs.

When Abayan handed him the marked money used in the operation, which was only P800 placed on top of paper cut to resemble paper bills, Catiri who was inside the taxi reportedly even recognized her and said, "uy, Maam!"

At that point, the two police officers cornered him and effected the arrest.

When the arrest was made, other elements from the VCS in the area noticed that one person hurriedly fled on foot towards barangay Basak, said Ylanan.

The person was identified as PO1 Vicada.

Ylanan immediately contacted C Insp. Marciano Batiancela of the San Nicolas Police Station to confirm the identity of Vicada.

VCS operatives assisted by policemen from the San Nicolas Police arrested Vicada at his house in Barangay Basak.

During investigation, it was discovered that Vicada owned the cellular phone used in transacting the deal with PO3 Abayan.

"Wala kami magdahom nga polis diay ang among gika transact para shabu," Ylanan said.

Vicada admitted ownership of the cell phone, but said that he gave the phone to Catiri for repair. He also denied involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

Catiri, on the other hand, said he was instructed by Vicada to deliver the pack of shabu to a buyer with a promise of a huge commission.

"Igo lang ko nga gisugo nila," referring to Vicada and another companion.

Gayotin told reporters that aside from criminal charges, Vicada would face administrative proceedings.

Separate charges will also filed against Catiri.

Gayotin said the arrest of PO1 Vicada is a warning to other policemen who are involved with illegal drugs. Last year, two police officers and classmates of PO1 Vicada were arrested by National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly selling drugs.

Now facing charges are PO2 Leo Batigalao and PO2 Jaime dela Cruz, both assigned in Cebu City.

Last July 9, another classmate of Vicada was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch for

visiting a house used as drug den.

Confiscated from PO1 Richard Rosacena were 40 strips of aluminum foil, a cutter, and an unlicensed .45 caliber pistol with five live bullets.

Gayotin told reporters that a number of policemen under his command are under close watch because of reports that they are using or selling illegal drugs.

He said that he assigned the Vice Control Section and Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch to closely monitor the activities of these policemen.