Sacked Pasig police official denies link to drug ‘tiangge’

A beleaguered police officer from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) insisted yesterday that Pasig City Rep. Robert Jaworski was misinformed when he named him "protector" and "distributor" of shabu at the raided drug "tiangge" in the city.

Inspector Elmer Santiago, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class ’96, said he is willing to face any investigation and even a Congressional hearing to clear his name.

Santiago said he is not aware of Jaworski’s motive for linking him to the raided shabu "tiangge" at the Mapayapa compound in Barangay Sto. Tomas.

Quoting an intelligence report, Jaworski named Santiago as the police officer "protecting" and distributing illegal drugs to the"shabu tiangge" during a press conference in Congress.

Santiago said he called up the office of Jaworski yesterday and his chief of staff insinuated that the congressman seems to be misinformed of the issue.

"Wala naman silang ebidensiya maliban sa mga reports ng concerned citizens (They don’t have evidence except reports from concerned citizens)," Santiago lamented. "Hindi naman aktibo ang pamilya ko sa pulitika kaya’t nagtaka ako kung bakit tinitira ako ni Sir Dodot. ( My family is not active in politcs so I’m amazed why I’m being targeted by Sir Dodot (Jaworkski)."

Santiago was tapped to head the RAIDSOTF after its Chief Superintendent Jerry Valeroso was sacked because of the shabu "tiangge" debacle. He received his orders last Feb. 20.

However, Santiago was relieved eight days later by Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol following reports that he was the alleged protector of the shabu "tiangge."

During his stint as RAIDSOTF chief, Santiago said he arrested Renato Martinez, 41, a councilman of Barangay Oranbo in Pasig City for possession of illegal drugs and usurpation of authority. Martinez is allegedly closely related to a City councilor.

"Alam ko ang kalakaran ng droga diyan sa Pasig at sa tingin ko binubusalan nila ako (I know the illegal drugs operations there in Pasig and I think I’m being silenced)," Santiago added but did not elaborate.

Santiago was interviewed at the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO), where he was transferred.

According to Santiago, the derogatory reports linking him to illegal drugs reached the attention of PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao in May last year. Also tagged in the report as protectors of the drug den were a certain Superintendent Galvan, PO2 Lipana, PO2 Along and PO1 Arevalo.

Santiago said various units of the PNP and government agencies cleared him of the accusations, including Barangay Sto. Tomas chairman Jesus Viray, who issued a certification last Aug. 10 that Santiago is not involved in the illegal drug trade nor frequently seen at the Mapayapa compound.

Querol has assured members of the House of Representatives yesterday, including Jaworski, that they are doing their best to ensure that no member of the PNP is involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Querol said the "derogatory information" on Santiago prompted them to conduct a probe even before Jaworski made the accusation. He also assured that Santiago will be punished if found guilty of the charges.

Jaworski, however, told reporters yesterday that Santiago "has been identified by residents and abducted pushers as the supplier of shabu that is proliferating in their community."

For his part, Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio denied that he was the source of the report linking Santiago to the shabu "tiangge."

"I have no blue book containing names of the drug den’s alleged protectors," said Eusebio in a hastily called press conference.

"As far as I’m concerned, hindi totoo ‘yong report. At hindi ko rin alam kung sino ang nagpapakalat noon (As far as I’m concerned, the report is not true. I also don’t know who distributed it)," said Eusebio.

Santiago, however, pointed to a certain Amin Imam Boratong as the real supplier of shabu in Pasig. Boratong reportedly owns the 1,600-square-meter lot at the shabu "tiangge."

Santiago said he even joined a team of agents from the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) in hunting down Boratong right after the raid last Feb. 10. — With Delon Porcalla