PDEA raids house of cop tagged in shabu theft

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided the house of arrested Superintendent Jerome Mutia in Bulacan and recovered P150,000 cash, believed to be proceeds from the sale of shabu that had been stolen from PDEA headquarters last month.

PDEA deputy chief for operation Rodolfo Caisip led the raiding team at Mutia’s house at Block 1, Lot 69, Phase 2, Northgate Park Subdivision in Sto. Cristo, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Caisip said the raid was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Malolos Judge Candido Belmonte following the arrest of Mutia, who has been tagged as the mastermind in the theft of seven kilos of shabu from the PDEA evidence room last Aug. 21.

Mutia and his alleged cohorts — Superintendent Gustavo Torres, Inspector Jofredo Padillo, former PO1 Pedro Avelino, civilian security guards Jean Granada and Oliver Fernandez — have been charged with theft.

The six allegedly took seven kilos of the shabu from the evidence room of the PDEA annex building on NIA Northside Road in Barangay Pinyahan in Quezon City last Aug. 21.

Apart from the P150,000, raiders also recovered plastic sachets, a 9mm pistol, two plane tickets for Dipolog. Mutia formerly served as finance officer of PDEA.

Raiders failed to recover any shabu.

Caisip said operations are ongoing to arrest Torres and Avelino, who went into hiding after the two security guards spilled the beans on them. – Cecille Suerte Felipe