After arrest for indiscriminate firing, Policeman positive for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The policeman who was arrested for indiscriminate firing over the weekend tested positive for illegal drugs, a police official revealed.

Results from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory 7 showed that PO3 Ruben Perater of Waterfront Police Station took in drugs before he was arrested, said City Intelligence Branch chief Romeo Santander.

“The result showed that he is positive for drugs. As further showed, the item recovered from him was confirmed to be shabu and it weighed 18.15 grams,” disclosed Santander.

The result will undergo confirmatory test for ten days as a standard operating procedure, he added.

Santander further said that the result of the ballistic test on the firearms recovered from the erring cop will soon follow.

He said that through the ballistic test, they will know if Perater’s firearms would match empty shells and slugs recovered in previous shooting incidents which Perater is also reportedly involved in.

Police are also preparing the affidavits of witnesses for the filing of criminal charges against Perater, which will be followed by the filing of administrative charges with illegal drug possession as the basis, the CIB chief said.

“We want an airtight case. Naa mi nadawat info regarding sa derogatory records linking him, but gi-validate pa nato ‘na so nag-examine ta karon sa mga evidence that will possibly match that record,” said Santander.

Santander further disclosed that Perater is allegedly a suspect in several shooting incidents in and out of Cebu City, one of which is the shooting incident in A. Lopez St., Barangay Calamba early this year.

“Majority sa mga shooting incidents, nahitabo this year and puro drug-related,” said Santander.

He said Perater is reportedly engaged in illegal drug trade.

“Daghan ganing nagpasalamat na nadakpan na g’yud na siya ug di na siya kagawas,” added the CIB chief.

Perater was arrested in an apartment in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Calamba last Sunday midnight after he reportedly fired his gun several times and even injured a man. He was seized with four firearms and four huge shabu packs that amounted to P100,000.

Police also recovered three police uniforms in the apartment, which were used by Perater’s three cohorts, who were arrested with him, said Santander.

The suspect admitted firing the gun to scare the people in the apartment who prevented him from installing lights. He allegedly bought the apartment and further denied using and selling drugs, saying he is a noble policeman.— (FREEMAN)