‘WPD cops’ offer bribe in P.9-M shabu bust

BAGUIO CITY — Ten police officers, who introduced themselves as members of the Western Police District’s drug enforcement unit, allegedly tried to bribe Baguio law enforcers to release one of three arrested "drug dealers" who yielded P900,000 worth of shabu in a buy-bust the other day.

Senior Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, Northern Luzon chief of the Narcotics Group, said the policemen led by one Inspector Luis Chico offered P200,000 in exchange for the release of suspect Marcelo de Juating Jr. who, they claimed, was their "asset."

Chico’s team claimed that they needed De Juating’s services in a big drug operation, Mabutas said.

De Juating, 34, along with Poncelio Cruz, 40, and Rafael Lumba, 34, was arrested during a buy-bust conducted by members of the 14th Narcotics Group at Shangri-la Village here Saturday afternoon.

The operation netted 450 grams of shabu valued at P900,000.

Mabutas said they would file criminal and administrative charges against the 10 WPD police officers. — Artemio Dumlao