Killed Boratong cop in drug pushing – EPD

Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz said yesterday that they were planning to summon the slain Pasig City policeman for a confrontation on his alleged involvement in drug pushing but two gunmen had beaten them to the draw.

“We were preparing a summon for him to appear before me so he could answer allegations on his alleged drug pushing activities but the gunmen put one over us,” said De la Cruz, referring to PO2 Roland Faraon, whose last assignment was at the National Capital Regional Police Office.

According to De la Cruz, Faraon was the subject of a derogatory text message sent on Dec. 13 and 28 to the office of Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr.

The text message pointed to Faraon and his close buddy PO2 Aldrin Lipana as behind the proliferation of shabu not only in Pasig City and also in the neighboring cities of Taguig, Las Piñas and the municipality of Pateros.

Both Faraon and Lipana were among the 21 policemen linked by a government witness, Samer Palao, as protectors of suspected Pasig City shabu flea market operator Amin Imam Boratong. Each time Faraon got drunk, the text message sender hinted, he would fire his gun in the air and nobody dared to stop him, even the barangay officials.

Faraon and Lipana were using a green Nissan Sentra in their drug peddling operation, the message claimed.

The office of Razon forwarded the text message to NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias, who in turn ordered the newly promoted De la Cruz to double-check the report.

According to De la Cruz, they were able to confirm the text message.

“My next move was to summon him for a confrontation with the evidence we gathered but the ambush incident preceded us,” he said.

Faraon was on his way to work at 7:15 a.m. Monday when two gunmen, riding in tandem on a motorcycle, ambushed him along Dr. M. Flores street in Barangay Bagong Ilog.

When his white Mitsubishi Lancer (WAF-212), came to a stop, one of the suspects at the back of the motorcycle, jumped out and approached the driver’s seat then fired two shots to finish him off.

De la Cruz said the witnesses were not able to get a clear look on the faces of the suspects because they were wearing bonnets and black jackets.

The EPD director, however, gave assurance that they were looking into all angles in the killing of Faraon, and “vigilantes” is one of them.

De la Cruz said they are also looking into reports that Faraon got tangled recently in a quarrel with a fellow policeman.

 “We are also eyeing double-cross in his illegal drugs business as among the motives behind his death,” said the EPD director.