3 cops nabbed in casino drug bust

MANILA, Philippines - Three police officers and a woman were arrested in a drug bust outside a casino in Pasay City Sunday.

Police Officer 1 Jonathan Barredo was apprehended after he reportedly handed over a kilo of shabu, with a street value of P5 million, to an undercover police officer, according to Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (AIDSOTF).

Also arrested were Barredo’s wife, Maria Yehlen Felipe; her brother, PO2 Mark Lawrence Felipe, and PO1 Josephine Penalosa.

The three police officers were arrested with the help of the Naval Intelligence Security Force and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission at the parking area of the Resorts World casino at around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Lawmen also confiscated a 9mm pistol and a Nissan Urvan (PQP-455) owned by Maria Yehlen’s sister.

Taas said Barredo had been under surveillance for the past several weeks. Barredo was arrested and charged with robbery and frustrated murder for allegedly shooting a guard during a market robbery in Quezon City on Dec. 20, 2012.

He was also named in a QCPD report as belonging to a kidnapping syndicate, Taas said. Barredo’s last assignment is with the Police Regional Office 13, he added.

According to Taas, Felipe and Penalosa broke into tears when confronted by AIDSOTF operatives regarding the shabu.

“The two other police officers professed innocence on the drug peddling activities of Barredo. They claimed that they were only out shopping and I believe them,” Taas said in an interview.

AIDSOTF operatives are conducting followup operations to determine the source of the shabu confiscated from Barredo.