Ex-cop and accomplice arrested for selling drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Two years after he was dismissed from service, a former policeman was arrested by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 in a buy-bust operation last Monday evening in Sitio Bag-ong Dan, Barangay Tayud, Liloan town.

Rodelo Pilapil Jr., 39, a resident of the said barangay; and his accomplice Jeffrey Otaza, 34, of Barangay Opao, Mandaue City, were arrested by the operatives after the transaction was completed.

Confiscated from Pilapil were four small packs and a medium pack of shabu all estimated at almost P6,000, buy-bust money and a .45 cal. pistol with a magazine containing three live rounds.

The drugs recovered were submitted to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug, Cebu City.

PDEA team leader Jose Tomabini said the arrest of the two came after reports from barangay officials about their illegal activities. They have been under surveillance since last December.

After the report was verified, operatives then carried out the operation around 6 p.m.

It was Otaza who handed a small pack of shabu to the poseur-buyer while Pilapil took the cash.  After the money changed hands the other operatives rushed in to arrest the suspects.

Tomabini said that Pilapil pulled out his gun and fired but hit no one.

“Pagkakita niya nga daghan kaayo mi iyang gilabay ang armas unya mugawas unta siya sa gate pero nadakpan na namo, wala na mi maka-return fire,” Tomabini said.

Pilapil was described as a Level 2 drug pusher who can earn as much as P100,000 a day selling shabu.

The suspects are now detained at the PDEA-7 stockade.  Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against them.

Pilapil was dismissed from service in 2011 for an administrative case for alarm scandal after he created trouble while on board a ship bound for Leyte in October 2010.

He was last assigned to the Bogo City Police Station, when the Police Regional Office-7 issued the dismissal order against him.

Chief Insp. Ceferino Tabay, deputy chief of the Bogo City Police Station, said that Pilapil, then assigned to the Medellin Police Station, took off his pants and underwear and walked around the ship brandishing his 9mm pistol.

He was believed to be under the influence of liquor when he was arrested in the Pingag Ferry Terminal in Barangay Matlang, Isabel, Leyte.

Tabay said Pilapil was grounded at the Cebu Provincial Police Office pending investigation before the latter was reassigned to the Bogo City Police Station.  - /BRP (FREEMAN)