NPD cop arrested in drug bust

MANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday scolded an active Northern Police District (NPD) policeman who was arrested in a drug sting in Valenzuela before dawn yesterday.

“Ikaw ang nakakasira sa imahe ng pulis at nandaramay ka pa ng matitinong pulis, animal ka (You are tarnishing the image of the police and affecting upstanding police officers, you animal)!” an enraged Eleazar told Pat. Jun Acosta, assigned at the District Police Intelligence Operation Unit, who was presented to the media yesterday at the Valenzuela police station after he was arrested along McArthur Highway in Barangay Malinta.

The target of the sting was a certain Marianne Salas, also known as Madonna, so police were caught by surprise that one of the arrested suspects introduced himself as a policeman, according to Valenzuela police drug enforcement unit chief Capt. Segundino Bulan Jr.

Acosta, who has been a patrolman for 16 years, has been under close monitoring for some time for dealing with drug suppliers and may have also been involved in recycling drugs confiscated during police operations, Eleazar said.

Acosta’s alleged cohorts – his current partner Vanessa Bayani and Randy delos Santos – were also arrested.

Acosta’s former partner, Rose Cruz, was arrested in 2017 for drugs, police said.

Acosta allegedly sourced his drugs from Genuine Ilocano Group member Junior Salgero, who is detained at the New Bilibid Prison.

Six sachets of shabu were confiscated from the suspects.

Soldier caught in sting

In Quezon City, Army Staff Sgt. Rector Baguioso was arrested in a sting along with two others yesterday.

Probers said Baguioso was a regular customer of Don Samson, 37, and Marilyn Gomez, 28, and was apprehended when he was caught transacting with the two suspects, who are both on the police drug watchlist.

Four sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were seized from the three suspects.

Also in Quezon City, 50 grams of shabu with a street value of P340,000 was seized from Bryan Dudley, 25, in a sting along Florentino street in Barangay Sta. Teresita at around 9:25 a.m. on Friday.

He allegedly sold P75,000 worth of shabu to police operatives. – Romina Cabrera