Muntinlupa crime lab chief tests positive for drugs

MANILA, Philippines -  Superintendent Lito Cabamongan, 50, who heads the Muntinlupa police’s crime laboratory satellite office in Alabang, was found positive for drug use during initial testing following his arrest on Thursday.

Nedy Sabdao, 44, who was caught along with Cabamongan, also tested positive for drugs, Chief Superintendent Aurelio Trampe, director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory, said.

“They tested positive for drugs.They were subjected to confirmatory test and the results will be known next week,” Trampe said.

Cabamongan claimed that the Crime Laboratory manipulated the result of his drug test.

“He should back up his allegation with proof. If he wants to go to the National Bureau of Investigation for another drug test using the same urine sample, it’s OK with us,” Trampe said.

If the result of Cabamongan’s confirmatory drug test turned out positive, Trampe said the police officer would be dismissed from the service.

Cabamongan and Sabdao were apprehended in a drug session at a house in Talon 4, Las Piñas after police received a tip from a concerned resident.

Anti-narcotics officers said they recovered three sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia at the scene.

The two were brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame in Quezon City for drug testing.

Reports said that Cabamongan has been harassing and threatening his co-detainees at the Las Piñas police detention cell.

Cabamongan is the highest police official arrested so far for illegal drugs.

He denied involvement in drugs, claming he was at the site to conduct an anti-drug operation against Sabdao as approved by Trampe.

Trampe denied Cabamongan’s claim.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said Cabamongan had been arrested previously for threatening a mall’s customer relations officer so he could watch a movie for free.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa cursed at Cabamongan, saying he was disappointed that a ranking police official had been found to be involved in illegal drugs. – With Perseus Echeminada