Drugbusters turn down P.3-M bribe

By keeping their hands clean, they kept their dignity intact.

This was how Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol described the recent actions of police anti-drug operatives, who turned down P300,000, which was offered as a bribe by relatives of four men earlier arrested for peddling illegal drugs.

Querol commended Superintendent Jerry Valeroso, chief of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (RAID-SOTF) and his men for not being blinded by the luster of money.

"We are proud of these officers and men of the RAID-SOTF for keeping their hands clean by resisting the bribe offer and for keeping the dignity of the police service intact," Querol said.

Valeroso and his men arrested Hadji Racma, 30 and Datu Raiz Cadir, both of Taguig, for offering P300,000 in exchange of the release of their four relatives, who were arrested on suspicion of being drug dealers.

Querol said the bribery attempt took place inside the RAID-SOTF office at around 2:20 a.m. yesterday.

Instead of taking the bribe, Valeroso and his men arrested the two for interceding on behalf of Jessie Macalnas, 23; Taya Macalnas, 24; Althon Kunakon, 22; and Ebrahim Ambalgan, 43, who were nabbed last Wednesday along the South Luzon Expressway in Calamba City for illegal drugs.

Querol said Jessie Macalnas had a pending application with the PNP while Ambalgan was reportedly a member of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Querol said charges or bribery were filed against Racma and Cadir while violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed against the four.