Ex-cop bags drug peddler

CEBU - A policeman who was recently dropped from service arrested a suspected drug pusher in Carcar City recently. It would have been a catch for the Philippine National Police, but the arresting officer PO1 Lorenzo de los Reyes is no longer in authority.

According to reports reaching the Cebu Provincial Police Office, De los Reyes arrested Dante Cereño, of barangay Napo, around 5:45 p.m. Saturday after he caught him with a small plastic sachet containing suspected shabu worth P300.

De los Reyes brought the suspect to the Carcar City Police Station for the filing of proper charges.

CPPO director Carmelo Valmoria said they are currently looking into further details of the arrest but confirmed that De los Reyes has already been dropped from the PNP rolls effective last October 2 for going Absence without Official Leave.

De los Reyes was previously assigned to the Argao Police Station and reportedly has a record of being involved in drug operations.

“He can’t make any arrest as he is no longer a PNP member, more so with illegal drugs,” Valmoria said.

His arrest of Cereño, however, will be considered a citizen’s arrest.

One of the renewed thrusts of PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa is to expedite the cases of policemen who are accused of misdemeanors to cleanse the image of the PNP. — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)