Ex-drug cop nabbed with P1.5-M shabu

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The former chief of this province’s anti-illegal drug task force, retired from the service since May last year, was arrested yesterday with P1.5 million worth of shabu in his possession.

Elements of the task force, now headed by Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao, and the Naval Intelligence Service Group pounced on retired police lieutenant colonel Benjamin Alviento, 57, in a friend’s house in Barangay Catbangen here.

The arresting team, headed by Inspector Manuel Batoon, seized from Alviento 766.9 grams of shabu packed in 10 plastic sachets and kept in his beltbag.

Under the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002, possession of 50 grams of shabu is punishable by death.

In 1999, Alviento was honored for capturing Rodolfo Valdez alias "Rough Road," the most wanted criminal in La Union then. — Vic Alhambra Jr.