Ex-cop in Pasig shabu tiangge arrested

MANILA, Philippines - A former policeman, reported to be a henchman of jailed “shabu tiangge” operator Amin Imam Boratong, was arrested by agents of the Eastern Police District (EPD) during a buy-bust operation in Pasig City over the weekend.

Ramil Along, 40, who held the rank of Police Officer 2, did not resist arrest when he was cornered by the men of EPD director Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo.

Manalo said Along and a certain Mac-Mac have allegedly taken over the operation of the drug syndicate formerly headed by Boratong and his wife, Sheryl Molera.

While Along is now behind bars, Manalo ordered a manhunt for Mac-Mac, believed to be a close relative of Boratong.

Manalo ordered Senior Superintendent Mario Soriano, commander of the District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group, to conduct a surveillance operation against Along and Mac-Mac since May 29 following reports that they are engaged in the selling of illegal drugs.

A day later, a witness told Soriano he was able to arrange a drug deal with Along for the purchase of a sachet of shabu for P2,500.

A team headed by Senior Inspector Dennis David positioned themselves at the corner of Mercedez and Market Avenues in Barangay San Miguel, the rendezvous point for the drug deal.

David said Along was arrested after he handed over a sachet of shabu to PO3 Jonathan Antonio, who was undercover. Police officers who frisked Along found 11 other sachets of shabu on his person, according to David.

When police raided the shabu tiangge (flea market), also known as a drug den, at the Mapayapa Compound in Barangay Sto. Tomas years back, Along’s police uniform was among those seized.

A government witness, Samer Palao, also identified Along and 21 other police officers in Pasig City as among those protecting Boratong’s drug den.

In his report to Manalo, David identified Along as behind the summary killings of police confidential agents, including an asset of television network GMA 7, in Pasig City.

David also said Along is behind the killing of Boratong’s drug peddlers who failed to remit their earnings.

David said Along faces a number of murder cases but managed to elude arrest and allegedly continued the activities of the drug syndicate headed by Boratong.

Boratong and Molera were sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Abraham Borreta of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 154 for operating the drug den.

The EPD is preparing drug-pushing charges against Along, who is currently detained at the Nagpayong jail.