IAS conducts probe on Cabamongan

The Regional Internal Affairs Service-National Capital Region (RIAS-NCR) is now conducting a motu propio investigation on Supt. Lito Dumandan Cabamongan, former head of the Crime Laboratory Alabang Satellite Office, who was allegedly caught in the act of using shabu in Las Piñas.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said Monday that any form of involvement in illegal drugs by police personnel is treated with utmost gravity.

“IAS will continue to act promptly in conducting investigations on cases involving our police officers as we support the PNP institutions’ intensified internal cleansing campaign,” Triambulo said in a press statement.

He said they will submit their report and recommendations on the case to the Office of the Chief PNP “in the earliest possible time as we commit to dispense of the mandate of our service in the most expedient and efficient manner possible.”

IAS Deputy Inspector General Police Director Leo Angelo Leuterio directed IAS officials to automatically act on matters of police misconduct within the regional and district levels to ensure that PNP officials involved in illegal activities are subjected to immediate investigation and proper administrative sanctions.

The IAS-Southern Police District investigators also immediately conducted an investigation after Cabamongan’s arrest.

At a press conference, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa explained why Cabamongan yielded negative results in past drug tests but tested positive in a drug test conducted after his arrest.

“If I will take his word ilang beses na daw sya sina-subject sa drug test at negative daw siya. Pinagmayabang niya doon sa kulungan, hindi ba. Ganito ang explanation ng Crime Lab n’yan, kahit pala daw araw-araw ka gumagamit ng shabu pero ‘yung quantity is minute lang, mababa, 0.001 gram, that will not really result nu’ng contamination, kapag check ng urine mo hindi contaminated ng elements ng shabu,” he said.

“Parang depende sa tao may naha-high na sa konting grams, may taong uminom ng alak kaunti lang malasing kaagad, may tao naman na kahit isang bote nilaklak niya hindi nalalasing so doon nag-iinterplay yung chemical reaction sa system ng tao, doon ‘yan nagdedetermine. Siguro si Cabamongan madali ma-high, konti lang kaya pag drug test sa kanya negative, hindi nadedetect,” he added.

He admitted that there were limitations in drug tests using urine samples.

“Reliable siya but meron lang limitations. ‘Yung pinakabest is drug test through dugo, blood samples, hindi yung urine samples. Kasi sa blood samples kahit ilang araw na nagdaan nadedetect pa din pero yung urine 72 hours lang upon taking shabu hindi na madedetect yung shabu doon sa katawan mo,” he said.

On the claim of Cabamongan that he might suffer the same fate as Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., Dela Rosa said such will not happen.

“Who is he para magkainteres ang tao, wala naman siguro. Baka mamaya ang magkainteres sa kanya ‘yung mga kasama n’ya sa kulungan na pinagsisipa niya. Mamaya maubusan ng pasensya ‘yung mga tao doon. Huwag siyang mag alala. Hindi kami magkainteres sa kanya. Ang sa amin is tanggalin siya sa serbisyo. ‘Yun lang ang aming intention para matapos na ito. Isipin mo nahuli ka nagpot session, colonel ka,” he said.

He added that he reminded the people inside the jail with Cabamongan not to hurt the police officer.

“Sinabihan ko before ako umalis doon ‘yung ko mga detainee na huwag niyong saktan ‘yan dahil mananagot kayo kapag may mangyari d’yan kasi pinagsisipa niya hindi ba,” he said. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News