Cop faces charges for drugs, gun robbery

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was arrested and charged Monday for alleged possession of illegal drugs and for reportedly stealing an M-16 rifle from his own unit in Valenzuela City.

Chief Superintendent Eric Javier, Northern Police District director, identified the suspect as PO1 Bernard Villena, 33, assigned at the Police Community Precinct 4 of the Valenzuela City police station.

Apart from possession of illegal drugs and qualified theft, Villena is also facing charges for two counts of illegal possession of firearm, illegal possession of ammunitions, and illegal possession of deadly weapons before the office of Valenzuela City assistant prosecutor Randy Caingal.

Superintendent Ferdie del Rosario, NPD-Police Community Relations office chief, said that on March 1, an M-16 rifle placed at the arm rack of PCP-4, where Villena was detailed, was stolen.

A witness informed Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, Valenzuela City police chief, that it was Villena who allegedly took the rifle, Del Rosario said.

An “in-depth” investigation conducted by Idio resulted in last Friday’s raid of Villena’s house in San Jose Compound, Barangay Paso de Blas.

During the raid, police with the assistance of barangay officials, recovered a blue bag containing six sachets of shabu, two dismantled M-16 rifles, a .45-caliber pistol, assorted ammunitions and bladed weapons at the living room of Villena’s house.

The operation also resulted on Villena’s arrest. He was disarmed of his 9mm service pistol and is now detained at the Valenzuela City Jail, Del Rosario said.

Javier yesterday directed Idio to “expedite” the pre-charge evaluation of Villena and immediately file administrative case against him.

Javier warned the NPD cops that the police organization, especially in his command, is “serious in its internal cleansing drive of weeding out scalawags in uniform.” – Pete Laude