SAN JOSE CITY – A former police patrolman who reportedly had gone AWOL for years was arrested in an anti-drug sting in Barangay Caanawan here at about 8:20 a.m., May 12.
City police chief Lt. Col. Marlon Cudal identified the suspect as Neil Ramos, 44, single, of Barangay Maragol, Science City of Munoz where he is facing malversation charges for his failure to surrender his service firearm since he went AWOL in 2014.
Cudal said Ramos was included in the police’s drug watchlist even as he was placed under drug rehabilitation at the height of anti-drugs war during the Duterte administration.
During the buy-bust, an undercover policeman managed to purchase a sachet of shabu using a pre-marked P1,000 bill. Three more sachets of suspected shabu, however, were seized along with an unlicensed .45 pistol, bullets, and a hand grenade after the arrest, according to Cudal.
The seized drugs weighed 0.18 grams and valued at P3,000. Police also confiscated a motorcycle allegedly used by the suspect in transporting the drugs.
“Non-bailable po ang illegal possession of explosives and at the same time yung selling of illegal drugs,” the cop chief said.
The suspect who is now detained at the police custodial facility here refused to comment.
Charges for violations of selling and possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms and explosive were set to be filed against him, police said.
