Iloilo City cop nabbed in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - An Iloilo City policeman was arrested in a buy-bust operation Wednesday evening at Brgy. Rizal Pala-Pala Zone 2, City Proper district, authorities said.

Ronnie Delicana, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6, identified the suspect as PO1 Marlon Roque, assigned at the Mandurriao Police Station mobile patrol unit.

Two sachets of suspected shabu and P4,000 cash, including the buy bust money, were confiscated from the policeman, said Delicana without going into the details on what happened during the operation.

Besides Marlon, the operation also planned to arrest his brother, Dexter, who however eluded arrest, said Delicana.

The PDEA-6 top official confirmed that both brothers were not on the watchlist of illegal drug personalities, “but their names cropped up during the surveillance operations,” While Dexter appeared to be the alleged drug pusher, Marlon has been his almost constant “protector,” said Delicana.

Chief Inspector Efren Lozada, Marlon’s direct superior at the Mandurriao Police Station, said they have not received yet any information about the alleged involvement of his policeman in the illegal drug trade. “He’s assigned here for almost six months. He seemed quite and was not the person to engage in lengthy talks,” he said.

Prior to Mandurriao Police Station, Marlon was assigned at the “gate” of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO). He reportedly did a short stint at the Task Force Bakhaw, an interim unit tasked to go after illegal drugs in Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

With Marlon’s arrest, Lozada said they will leave everything now to the PDEA. Relatedly, Delicana refused to comment on allegations that a number of policemen may have been involved in actual illegal drug trade and protection.

“It’s a sensitive issue and we don’t want to point finger at anybody. We’ll just do our job,” Delicana added. (FREEMAN)