PDEA cop nabbed for selling shabu

A police major assigned to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was arrested after being caught in the act of selling shabu in Quezon City last Wednesday night.

The arrest of Chief Inspector Arsenio Tancinco, assigned to PDEA’s Metro Manila Regional Office, brings to five the number of police officials linked to the sale of shabu in less than a month.

Tancinco was caught selling some 2.7 grams of shabu to an undercover agent, according to PDEA Director Dionisio Santiago.

The suspect was arrested at 8:15 p.m. in an entrapment operation conducted by joint elements of the PDEA, Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) and QCPD Station 6 along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

At a pre-arranged signal, the team accosted Tancinco. He did not resist arrest.

Earlier, Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante, assigned to the office of PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon, received information that Tancinco was set to deliver shabu to his contacts.

Bustamante immediately coordinated with AIDSOTF chief Director Marcelo Ele Jr., who set up an entrapment operation with the PDEA.

"Surveillance and a case build-up against Tancinco confirmed he was involved in the sale of illegal drugs," Ele said.

The AIDSOTF chief said police asset Roderick Laurente described in detail Tancinco’s illegal drug activities.

"The asset claimed he was being utilized by Tancinco to sell shabu. He even alleged that he owes the major P20,000, which was supposed to be settled last Thursday," Ele said.

He pointed out that the shabu being sold by Tancinco allegedly came from Superintendent Jerome Mutia, the principal accused in the theft of seven kilos of shabu from the PDEA office in Quezon City last Aug. 20.

Mutia, Superintendent Gustavo Torres and Inspector Jefredo Padillo have been tagged in the theft of shabu from the PDEA evidence room while Chief Inspector Glenn Logan has been charged for directly selling illegal drugs.