Ex-PNP narc unit chief, 9 men, rapped

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed criminal charges yesterday against 10 former anti-narcotics policemen for "planting shabu" on a Taiwanese businessman they abducted and robbed in Pasay City four years ago.

Charged in the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for violating Republic Act 7659, or the law on planting evidence, on Taiwanese businessman Go Lip Tse, alias "Philip Sy," was Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, former chief of the Narcotics Group-Special Operation Group (SOG).

Also charged were Senior Inspectors Julius Ceasar Mana, Julieto Culili, and Medel Pone; Inspector Carlito Dimalanta; SPO3s Armando Ungay and Benedicto Tupil; and SPO2s Mabini Rosale, Saul Avellano, and Evangeline Martos, all of the Narcotics Group’s Special Operations Group formerly headed by Villaroman.

Villaroman, aside from being closely identified with former national police chief, Senator Panfilo Lacson, was among the police officials accused by former anti-narcotics agent Mary Ong, alias "Rosebud" of involvement in drug trafficking.

Culili, Ungay and Tupil were also charged with obstruction of justice.

The filing of criminal cases against the 10 officers was based on a decision issued by Pasay City Judge Porfirio Macaraeg who earlier dismissed drug charges against Sy after finding the drug bust operation by Villaroman’s group bogus.

Sy was nabbed in an alleged drug bust in front of the Heritage Hotel on Roxas Boulevard and Edsa on March 15, 1998 for allegedly selling 312 grams of shabu to a police undercover agent. – Jaime Laude