Rookie cop nabbed with P7.5-million cocaine

MANILA, Philippines - A rookie Pasay policeman and his jobless neighbor were arrested for allegedly selling 1.5 kilos of cocaine, which has a street value of around P7.5 million, near a church in Pasay City Monday night.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief information officer Special Agent Derrick Carreon said they arrested Police Officer Rodelio Rania, 35, assigned to Police Community Precinct 6, and Noel Bartolome, 41, who claimed to be an informant of the Southern Police District. The two suspects, who were arrested in an entrapment operation, are neighbors at Tramo street in Pasay City.

PDEA agents seized the cocaine, which was in brick form; a 9mm Beretta handgun; three magazines; 29 bullets; two cell phones; Rania’s Philippine National Police identification card; the marked money; and an owner-type jeep (WFR-704) allegedly used in the transaction.

Carreon said Rania was reportedly selling the bricks for P700,000. The bricks are believed to be part of more than 1,500 kilos dumped by a Chinese vessel off the coast of Samar last year. Authorities have recovered only about 400 kilos of the contraband.

Rania and Bartolome were charged for selling cocaine and conspiring to sell the illegal drug before the city prosecutor’s office.