Cop arrested in drug suspect's house

MANILA, Philippines - A police officer and a woman were arrested during a buy-bust operation Friday night at the house of an alleged drug pusher in Quezon City.

Chief Inspector Frederick Cabaccang, 33, who is assigned with the Philippine National Police Health Service in Camp Crame, was arrested along with Catherine Onod, 49, an optometrist.

Onod’s husband, Petronilo, 49, who is allegedly a drug pusher, managed to escape and remains at large, said Senior Inspector Jaime Armenta, Quezon City police Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group chief.

Reporting to Quezon City police director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego, Armenta said the two were arrested at the Onod residence on Antique street in Barangay Magsaysay at past 9 p.m. Friday.

Case investigator Police Officer 3 Jeffrey Flores said the two suspects were set to undergo inquest proceedings on charges of violating Republic Act 9165 yesterday.

Two sachets of shabu were found inside the house when the suspects were arrested, Flores added.

Flores said police seized from the suspects’ possession drug paraphernalia like lighter and strips of aluminum foil.

The two were also made to undergo drug tests, whose results have yet to come out, Flores added.

Petronilo will be directly charged for drug sale, based on the buy-bust operation during which he allegedly sold a sachet of shabu for P500 to a policeman, Flores said.

The STAR attempted to get the side of the two arrested suspects but they declined to grant an interview.

Cabaccang, who is also a registered nurse, told police that he was at the Onod residence because they are his friends, Flores said. – Reinir Padua