Three bad apples

Three rookie policemen assigned to the Central Police District (CPD) have been arrested in Manila for selling 50 grams of shabu, which they had seized in a previous operation in Quezon City.

Arrested were Police Officers 1 Joel Diomampo, Benjardi Perez, and Carmelo Decena, all detailed at Drug Enforcement Unit of the CPD-Station 11 (Galas).

The suspects were presented to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza at the City Hall yesterday afternoon. They were arrested by members of the Western Police District-Drug Enforcement Group (WPD-DEG), headed by Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo.

Pedrozo said the suspects were apprehended shortly after a buy bust operation Monday afternoon at the corner of Matimyas and Ramirez streets in Sampaloc.

Pedrozo said the operation was conducted following reports that a policeman was involved in the sale of prohibited drugs in the area.

Inspector Kimberly Molitas was tapped to act as poseur-buyer and make arrangements for a drug deal. Through an asset, Molitas managed to set a P45,000 transaction with one of the suspects.

Pedrozo said it was Diomampo, who received the marked money from the cop.

"When Inspector Molitas announced the raid, the three tried to escape onboard their car but my men gave chase until the suspects were cornered," Pedrozo noted. "The initial information we got was that a cop was involved in the sale of illegal drugs. We were surprised to learn during the interrogation that all of them were lawmen," Pedrozo added.

The three will be charged with violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which is considered a capital offense, considering their status as law enforcers and the amount of drug seized from them.