4 Visayas cops in hot water

MANILA, Philippines - Four rookie policemen in Western Visayas are in hot water for various offenses, including alleged involvement in illegal drug activities and for violating the gun ban during the MassKara Festival.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Western Visayas police director, said PO1s Roldan Villa, Sherwin Esmedio and Melchor Salcedo, and PO2 Rex Capapas are under investigation and face summary dismissal proceedings for their offenses.

Cruz said Villa of the Police Community Precinct of the Bacolod Government Center is under custody after being arrested last Oct. 13 for carrying his .45-caliber pistol with seven live bullets des-pite the gun ban in Bacolod at the onset of the MassKara 2012 celebration.

Esmedio, a field trainee, was arrested in an entrapment operation by the Iloilo City police last Saturday. He was linked to a wanted criminal, Gilbie Principe, who died from a grenade blast following a standoff with the Jaro police earlier that day.

Principe’s mobile phone revealed incriminating correspondence from Esmedio, leading to his arrest. Police seized a sachet of suspected shabu from Esmedio.

In Silay City, Negros Occidental, Capapas and Salcedo were tagged as illegal drug suppliers by Rodrigo de la Cruz, a drug pusher nabbed in a police buy-bust.