4 cops allegedly protecting drug suspect nabbed in Olongapo

Four police officers were nabbed during a raid in an alleged clandestine shabu laboratory inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, the Philippine National Police said Friday.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas ordered the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to file criminal charges against Police Lieutenant Reynato Basa Jr; and Police Corporals Gino dela Cruz, Edesyr Victor Alipio, and Godfrey Duclayan Parentela, who are all assigned at the Drug Enforcement Unit of Olongapo City Police Office.

According to PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana, the cops were alleged "protectors" of drug suspect Jericho Dabu, who was also arrested during the operation.

"That's right... protector sila ng isang suspect na Jericho Dabu. Accordingly, this Jericho Dabu has actually been identified as member of Australian, European, American, Chinese, Canadian national and Filipinos engaged in maintaining illegal drug laboratory producing three to four kilos a day and partially distributed to Region III and Metro Manila," Usana said in an interview.

The PNP said the group Dabu is affiliated to has unlimited financial resources and contact persons as its protectors.

Seized during the operation were one kilogram of shabu, another 300 grams of shabu, six mobile phones, four Glock 17 caliber .9MM, one Honda Civic, and some marked money.

He said the police officers have already been disarmed. He added that the PNP chief wants their immediate dismissal from police service.

"Sila po ay nadisarmahan, binigyan na ng instruction ang mga nagiimbestiga to facilitate the conduct of investigation that will lead to the dismissal of police officers, along with the filing of criminal action against them," Usana said.

Basa denied the allegations while the three other arrested police officers refused to comment.

Following this, Sinas directed the immediate drug testing of all personnel of Olongapo City Police Office starting with all CDEU operatives.— with John Consulta/AOL/RSJ, GMA News