Manila cop in trouble for meddling in police operation

A Manila policeman was charged with obstruction of justice yesterday for reportedly meddling in a buy-bust operation resulting in the escape of his brother, who was tagged as a big-time drug pusher by anti-narcotics operatives of the Western Police District.

District Drug Enforcement Group (DDEG) chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino said Senior Police Officer 2 Donato Tan of the Sampaloc Police Station "interfered and even confronted the arresting officers" who were about to arrest the latter’s brother Rodrigo Tan, 49, during a buy-bust operation. According to Espino, the meddling of SPO2 Tan had given his brother enough time to escape.

The affidavit of arrest showed that at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday, an undercover operative of DDEG bought shabu worth P200 from Rodrigo and his wife Carolina.

After the marked money was received by Rodrigo, police operatives posted nearby rushed in and arrested the couple. It was then that SPO2 Tan reportedly surfaced and confronted the arresting officers. During the melee, Rodrigo was able to escape while his wife was arrested by the police.

Espino lamented the meddling of SPO2 Tan, saying, instead of confronting the arresting officers he should have allowed the arrest to be effected. "He can assist his brother during investigation and post bail if warranted. What he did was a clear obstruction of justice," Espino said.

The DDEG chief showed The STAR an intelligence report from the National Drugs Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center naming a certain SPO2 Donato Tan as allegedly engaged in illegal drug activities. Charges of violation of the anti-drugs law were filed against Rodrigo and his wife.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo filed robbery charges against the raiding team, claiming he lost an undetermined amount of jewelry to the police operatives.