Ex-cop, 7 others held for drugs in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — A former policeman was arrested in a sting in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said former Police Officer 3 Wilborn Lava, 46, has been the subject of a surveillance operation following reports that he has been selling narcotics and was involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in Barangay Del Monte.

“He was included in our list of high-value targets of drug personalities sometime in 2016,” Eleazar said in an interview.

Lava was arrested at around 4:30 p.m. in Barangay Masambong where he sold P14,000 worth of shabu to a policeman posing as a buyer.

Two sachets of shabu with a street value of P28,000 were found in his possession.

Lava entered the service in 1998 and was assigned as a liaison officer at the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division of the National Capital Region Police Office. He went AWOL or absent without leave in 2015.

“We believe he was influenced by his batchmates who are involved in illegal drugs,” Eleazar said.

Meanwhile, Theresa Quizora, Camille Reyes, Jessie Tugonon, Marilou dela Cruz, Domingo Manaois and Jenifer Labadora, and Jacques Pierre Ventura were also arrested for  illegal drugs on the same day.

In Manila, police  arrested Carlos Mendez, John Allen Tampico, Mico Tizon, Randell de Leon, Jon Eugene Placido, Tom Jovy Cruz, Chierro de Leon, Mark Anthony Abrera, Carlos Torres, Elizalde Pestilos, Rizalino Protomartir, Josephine Pangilinan, Paulino Matamis, Glenn Joniga, Robert Mabutas, and Jainier Francia.

Joel Macasero and Niel Sia were arrested in Taguig while Eleonor Ilumba, Renie An, Regine Concepcion, Enrique Vera and Erwin Calosing were arrested in Makati. – With Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Robertzon Ramirez