Cop faces dismissal for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 has initiated the dismissal proceedings against PO2 Bernardito Almieda, the police officer arrested by the Provincial Intelligence Branch in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion, Borbon Monday.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, PRO-7 director, said that he could not accept the reason that Almieda was conducting surveillance at that time.

During the operation, Almieda was with the alleged drug pusher, Edwin Cabahug, who was the subject of the operation but was able to elude arrest.

“Kung mag-surveillance nasa malayo at hindi sa loob ng bahay…I was not born yesterday. I have a warning and that he (Almieda) should face the consequences,” Bañas said, adding that prior the operation, the police has already received reports that a policeman was protecting the said illegal activity in the area.

The regional headquarters, however, still has to wait for the official report from the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Bañas admitted that with the incident, the public may perceive that policemen are protecting and pushing for illegal drug activities. However, he said the arrest would also signify that policemen are not tolerating the activity of their comrades.

Bañas added that Inspector Glen Devocion, Borbon police chief, also has some explaining to do.

But in a separate interview, Devocion denied that he knew of Almieda’s activities. He said that he only instructed his intelligence operatives to build up information against drug pushers.

 “Wala gyud ko kaila anang Cabahug pero nakadungog ra ko…wala sad ko magsugo niya (Almieda) nganong tua siya ngadto basta duna lang ko’y instruction nga mag-develop sila og target unya wala ko magtuo nga maingon ana ang istorya,” Devocion said in a phone interview.

He added that for his almost two years of being the police chief in Borbon, it has been Almieda who has provided targets for the police.

“Pero sige lang kay muhimo ko og laing investigation aside from the investigation of the CPPO,” the police chief said.

PIB arrested Almieda in an alleged drug den where illegal drugs to worth P50,000 and drug paraphernalia were seized.

Cabahug escaped but his cohort, Zeev Tulod, 40, was arrested instead.

PIB also recovered a colt .45 pistol with 21 bullets and three magazines from Almieda. The firearm is still at the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section (FESSAGS) to check if it's government issued or personally owned by the policeman.— (FREEMAN)