P5-million shabu seized from fake cop, Chinese man

MANILA, Philippines - A fake police officer and a Chinese national were arrested Wednesday for possession of at least one kilo of shabu with an estimated street value of P5 million in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales said yesterday one of the suspects, Richard Cervantes, flashed an identification card showing his rank as senior inspector when accosted by his men at the corner of M. Mapa and Guadalcanal streets in Sta. Mesa at about 1 a.m. Wednesday.

However, records show that there is no Cervantes with the rank of senior inspector assigned to the Southern Police District’s police investigation branch.

Rosales said the arrest of Cervantes and his companion, Luis Go, alias William Chen, was part of a follow-up operation after four kilos of shabu was confiscated from four Chinese nationals in Valenzuela City in July.

“My men have been tailing the car used by Cervantes and Go for several days,” Rosales said. “My men decided to flag them down after being tipped off that they are carrying the shabu contraband.”

Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) regional police intelligence and operations unit (RPIOU) and his men positioned themselves on both sides of M. Mapa and Guadalcanal streets after being warned that the suspects would pass by the area to deliver the shabu to a client.”

When accosted by police, Cervantes emerged from Go’s Lexus while flashing his police ID and told the raiders they made a wrong arrest. Francisco said Cervantes clammed up when told that SPD director Chief Superintendent Jaime Calungsud disowned him.

A subsequent search of Go’s car yielded a kilo of shabu. Rosales said Cervantes also yielded a .45 caliber pistol and they are checking to see if it is licensed.

The Dangerous Drugs Board said a kilo of shabu now fetches P5 million in the streets.

Rosales said Go and Cervantes are detained at the RPIOU detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while charges of drug possession are being readied against them. Cervantes will face an additional illegal possession of firearms charge.