Cop, 7 others face charges for drugs, abducting taxi driver

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A Bacolod policeman and his seven companions were charged for alleged abduction and torture of a taxi driver, and for being caught with illegal drugs during a buy-bust operation.

Police filed multiple charges before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday against Police Officer 2 Donbert Viñas (assigned to Bacolod Police Station 4) and his companions Jeffany Nene, Jodan Vasquez, Theonick Dioso (a former policeman), and four others yet to be identified.

Senior Inspector Edencio Garcia, Bacolod Police Station 2 chief, said the suspects were indicted for illegal detention, abduction, mauling, torture, and grave threat on the victim, taxi driver Christopher Villegas, 37, of E. B. Magalona town last January 15.

Villegas alleged he was abducted in Talisay City and brought to a house at 1st Street in Bacolod, where he was tortured and threatened to be killed.

Viñas was also charged for violation of both Republic Act 10591 (New Firearms Law) and the Comelec gun ban, while Nene and Vasquez were charged for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act).

The three were arrested last Saturday at Barangay 17 of Bacolod, while their five companions remained at-large. Nene and Vasquez were arrested after they sold a sachet of shabu to a police poseur-buyer for P7,000.

Police recovered from their possession six big heat-sealed, one large plastic sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, and the P7,000 marked money. The seized illegal drugs weighed 76 grams with an estimated market value of P420,000.

After the buy-bust operation, the operatives rescued the taxi driver, who was hogtied with a leather belt. He was found injured inside the room of Vasquez.

The victim said the group of Viñas was planning to kill him in Manapla town, where Vasquez was residing. He said he attempted to escape, but was mauled and tortured by Viñas and his seven companions.

Viñas was arrested after he was seen leaving the house at Barangay 17, where a buy-bust operation took place. He first locked himself in his car before surrendering to his commander, Senior Inspector John Ganzon, chief of Station 4, after about four hours of negotiation.

The taxi driver said the group of Nene sourced their illegal drugs supply from Panay island that that Viñas  allegedly served both as protector and pusher. (FREEMAN)