Raps filed vs 2 PDEA cops

Criminal charges were filed yesterday against two police officers of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PEA) after their negiligence allowed the escape of a uspected drug pusher from Camp Crame last month.

Charged with the crime of evasion through negligence before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office were PO2 Arnold Lao and PO1 Ronaldo Toledo of PDEA’s Team Magellan based at the Narcotics Group Compound in Camp Crame. They were the duty officers in charge of the custody of arrested drug pusher Ernesto Lubarbio.

Lubarbio, 26, of Pateros-Taguig, was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by Team Magellan in Bacoor, Cavite last July 26 at around 1:30 a.m.

The operatives recovered shabu and seized a red Honda CRV.

Criminal charges were filed against the suspect before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Cavite. But due to the non-availability of the duty inquest prosecutor, investigators from PDEA had no alternative but to bring back Lubarbio to their office in Camp Crame.

In an affidavit, PDEA Pre-Charge Investigation Division chief Senior Inspector Jose Rivera Sr. said Lubarbio escaped last July 27 at around 4 a.m.

Lao claimed he stepped out of the office to attend to a personal matter. When he returned, the suspect was gone along with the folding bed to which he was handcuffed. PDEA has launched a manhunt for Lubarbio.

"It is crystal clear that PO2 Lao neglected his duty to secure and safeguard the suspect," Rivera said.

He explained that the two police officers failed to observe proper procedures in handling detainees when they did not turn over the suspect to the detention cell, considering that their office was not intended for confinement of drug suspects.

Meanwhile, two men being investigated for car theft charges by the Traffic Management Group reportedly tried to "escape" while under custodial investigation at Camp Crame last July 25.

TMG men were able to catch the duo within the compound. – With Christina Mendez