4 cops nabbed in drug bust released to officers

Four Manila Police District (MPD) policemen arrested on Thursday while arranging a drug deal in Tondo, Manila were released to the custody of their superior officer on Friday.

But the release from detention of PO3 Mike Fabian Ongpauco, PO3 Jonnathan Ruiz, PO3 Dradreb Cirpriano and PO1 Edwin Castro does not mean they are already off the hook.

Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos, Criminal Investigation Four Manila Police District (MPD) policemen arrested on Thursday while arranging a drug deal in Tondo, Manila were released to the custody of their superior officer on Friday.

But the release from detention of PO3 Mike Fabian Ongpauco, PO3 Jonnathan Ruiz, PO3 Dradreb Cirpriano and PO1 Edwin Castro does not mean they are already off the hook.

Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief of detectives and spokesman, said charges of attempted robbery in band would be filed against the four policemen.

"We will be filing the appropriate charges of robbery in band against the four. For the time being, they were released under the custody of MPD legal officer Superinendent Hospicio Gueverra," Delos Santos said.

The four cops were intercepted by joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) and the CIDG while about to pass a supposed shabu package to a police undercover agent.

The drug deal, which happened along Delos Santos Avenue in Tondo on Thursday noon did not push through after the four cops sensed that they were dealing with another group of law enforcers.

A stand off and a near shootout occured when MPD officials reinforced the four policemen, claiming that they were on an official drug mission.

The supposed contraband were taken to Camp Crame for investigation. When checked at the laboratory, the seized substance was found to be "tawas" which the suspects are allegedly using to dupe potential clients.

Delos Santos explained that the suspects’ strategy is to look for a prospective wealthy victim with dubious character and transact a drug deal.

"Pag-ayos na ang deal, they (suspects) would take the money from the victim then place him under arrest for tramped-up drug charges and ask for more cash until the victim is left with nothing," Delos Santos said.

Because of their expertise, Delos Santos said the suspects even fooled a seasoned Camp Crame-based informant who was made to believe that the suspects were selling one kilo of shabu worth P3 million. — Jaime Laude