Cop, female companion nabbed in Pasay drug bust

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman and his female companion were arrested in a sting operation in Pasay City last Monday.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) identified the suspects as Police Officer 1 Edmund Gonzales, 32, of No. 1485 A. Rivera Street, Tondo, Manila and Cecille Magbutay, 25, of Shiling Street, Phase 8, North Fairview, Quezon City.

They were caught red-handed selling 100 grams of shabu to a PDEA undercover agent beside a popular fast-food restaurant along Arnaiz Avenue Barangay 76, Zone 10 at around 4:30 p.m. last April 15.

Also seized from the suspects’ possession were a black  motorcycle, two mobile phones and two P500 marked bills used by th PDEA in the buy-bust operation.

Gonzales is the third police officer arrested by PDEA in only two weeks.

During the first days of the month, two former cops who went absent without official leave (AWOL), were arrested by PDEA during separate buy-bust operations in Taguig City and Maguindanao.

Gonzales and Magbutay now face charges for selling dangerous drugs and are detained at the PDEA custodial facility in Quezon City.