Cop arrested for protecting porn trade?

For trying to stop a police raid against pornography peddlers which led to the escape of the suspects, a Mandaluyong policeman was charged yesterday before the city prosecutor’s office.

Charged was SPO1 Joselito del Rosario, a member of the Mandaluyong police foot patrol team.

Inspector Efren Jugo, chief of the Mandaluyong Criminal Investigation Detection Group, said the anti-vice unit conducted a raid at the Edsa Central at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Police arrested several vendors and confiscated from them bundles of pornographic magazines and VCDs.

However, when the suspects were about to be brought to the police headquarters, SPO1 Del Rosario suddenly appeared and asked his fellow cops not to book the suspects.

Jugo said Del Rosario allegedly pulled out his gun and pointed it to his fellow policemen.

The vendors seized the opportunity to flee, taking with them the seized pornographic materials.

Jugo said the raiders ended up having confiscated only four VCD items. Jugo said he suspects Del Rosario has been coddling the illegal activities of the vendors.