Cop caught using drugs in Taguig City bar

MANILA, Philippines — Police Officer 1 Redentor Bautista, 34, was allegedly stuck in the restroom of the Island club, prompting security officers to check on him, according to Senior Superintendent Alex Santos, Taguig police chief.

Security officer Gary Palma called up Police Community Precinct 7 commander Chief Inspector Joseph Austria to report Bautista’s drug use.

A sachet containing .4 grams of cocaine was seized from Bautista, who is assigned to the MPD Station 1’s anti-crime division.

Bautista said the cocaine was just given to him, but refused to name names.

Director Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Officer chief, berated Bautista when he presented the lawman during a press conference at the Taguig police station yesterday.

“All of us were preparing for Undas. Full alert status. What were you doing? You were in a club doing cocaine. What kind of police officer are you?” Eleazar said in Filipino, referring to preparations to secure cemeteries as Filipinos observed All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

“You do not have the right to stay with the police. Resign,” he added.

Unit head sacked

Meanwhile, MPD director Chief Superintendent Rolando Anduyan ordered the relief of Chief Inspector Manny Israel following Bautista’s arrest, sources said.

Sources said Israel was sacked for signing Bautista’s leave form when all police officers are supposed to be on full alert. Bautista allegedly claimed to be sick so he could attend the Halloween party at the bar.

MPD Station 1 commander Superintendent Jay Dimaandal said Bautista passed a drug test in July “but maybe he started using drugs after that.”

Sources said Anduyan warned Dimaandal that he would be relieved the next time any of his men “get into trouble with the law.”

2 dead in shootouts

Two drug suspects were killed in separate alleged shootouts since Wednesday.

Bonifacio Socorro, 66, was shot dead in a sting at a dump in Malinta, Valenzuela at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Police recovered from the crime scene a loaded .38 caliber revolver and two bullet casings and three sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu from Socorro’s person.

Alma Socorro, Enrico San Juan, Leonora Sioco and Niño Bautista were arrested for being in the area during the sting.

Police said Socorro was on trial for drugs in a Valenzuela court.

In Manila, Michael Bato, 35, was shot dead in a sting in Binondo, Manila at around 1:15 a.m. yesterday.

Police recovered a handgun and 19 sachets of shabu.

In Marikina, Roberto Dioquino, 59, and his son Christopher, 21, were arrested along with three others in a drug sting at past midnight yesterday.

The Dioquinos were reportedly behind the proliferaton of illegal drugs in Barangay Parang, said Senior Superintendent Roger Quesada, Marikina police chief.

In Caloocan, Bagong Barrio watchman Jude Sevilla was arrested along with 10 others for carrying 19 sachets of shabu as they were playing a coin gambling game in Barangay 149 at around midnight yesterday.

At least six persons were arrested for drug-related offenses: three in Tondo, Manila, one in Pasay and two in Parañaque.  – With Non Alquitran, Marc Jayson Cayabyab