CIDG officer denies selling seized shabu

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Pampanga police, who was arrested Monday along with his six civilian aides, has denied involvement in the alleged “recycling” of confiscated illegal drugs.

Chief Inspector Bienvenido Reydado vowed to clear his name in the proper forum.

“I have evidence, including records of my anti-crime and anti-drug operations, which would bear me out in the proper forum,” Reydado told The STAR yesterday.

He also promised to cooperate in the investigation.

The police official said he believes the two policemen he relieved from his unit for selling confiscated drugs were behind the charges filed against him and his aides.

“The two policemen were the ones involved in the illegal activities that’s why I relieved them. They were transferred to the CIDG regional office but have gone absent without leave. They spread word that I’m the one involved in illegal activities and even wrote a letter to PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima,” said Reydado, but refused to name the two police officers.

As this developed, CIDG director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong reminded its commanders to strictly screen their assets to ensure that they have no peding charges.

“CIDG commanders should not use wanted persons with dubious characters as their assets,” he said.

Magalong said Reydado and his aides were arrested in simultaneous raids at the CIDG office in Pampanga and at their safe house in Balagtas, Bulacan.

The suspects reportedly yielded P2.6 million cash, five unlicensed high-powered firearms, 11 pistols, a rifle grenade, various magazines for different calibers, five sport utility vehicles, and two motorcycles.

Reydado said the money, which was taken from a vault in their safe house, came from his buy-and-sell business of used cars.

“I have been in the buy-and-sell business since 2003 that’s why I have that amount in the vault,” he said, adding his aides Adriano Laureta, Arnold Sanggalang, Pedrito Tadeo and Edwardson Sisracon were hired as CIDG agents two weeks ago.

Reydado said the murder charges against Sisracon, tagged as the second most wanted fugitive in Naic, Cavite, has already been dropped, and vowed to produce the document in court.