Cop, 5 others nabbed in Quezon City drug den

MANILA, Philippines - A rookie policeman and five others were arrested at a house suspected of being a drug den in Barangay Culiat Friday night, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officials said yesterday.

A police report said Police Officer 1 Elmer Anong, 24, was carrying a handgun – not his service firearm – while not in uniform, violating the election gun ban.

In a report, Senior Inspector Jaime Armenta, head of the QCPD’s District Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, said they also arrested Albazer Jaraja, Kaibair Abubacar, Jormonel Jumaani, Rizal Sarri and Casmel Anong, the policeman’s brother. The five suspects reportedly yielded four sachets of shabu and other paraphernalia.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Jefrrey Flores said the arrested policeman is assigned with the Police Regional Office 3, but is a resident of Culiat.

“Even if he (PO3 Anong) did not participate in the pot sessions, he should not have been there, knowing that it is a drug den,” Flores said in an interview.

Though the operator of the alleged drug den has yet to be identified, police said house had been under surveillance of the QCPD.

An undercover police officer bought a sachet of shabu allegedly from Casmel Anong for P500. Following the transaction, police made the arrest.

According to Flores, all the arrested suspects are facing charges under Republic Act 9165, while the policeman will also be charged for violating the Omnibus Election Code.