MANILA — Two rogue policemen have been arrested in a drug bust in Rodriguez, Rizal, the Provincial Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon) reported Friday.
PRO 4-A Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar presented Police Officer (PO) 2 Benjo V. Sionilo and PO 1 Ivan Henrik Tavas to members of the media. The two are under police custody after they were arrested in a buy-bust operation Thursday night.
Recovered from their possession were five sachets of suspected shabu and two Caliber 9 mm. Beretta pistols. The two had gone AWOL (absence without official leave) prior to their arrest for the drug charges.
Sionilo, 37, of B6L41 Charmison Subd., Barangay Geronimo in Rodriguez, Rizal, had served 11 years in the police force but went on AWOL last March 3. His last assignment was with the Antipolo Police.
Tavas, 33, of 530 MH del Pilar St., also in Barangay Geronimo, served seven years in the service before he was declared on AWOL on March 29, 2017. His last assignment was with the Rizal Provincial Mobile Force Company.
On May 24, the two were arrested in a drug buy-bust operation at about 10:20 p.m. in Metro Montana, Barangay Burgos, also in Rodriguez, Rizal via the joint effort of personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Board/Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Station Drug Enforcement Team of Rodriguez Municipal Police, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 4-A.
Earlier this month, PDEA operatives, working with the Rizal Police and the 80th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, raided a suspected drug den in Antipolo City last May 12. A total of 36 drug personalities were apprehended during the raid.
A total of 43.3 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP294,440, and various drug paraphernalia were seized. (PNA)
