MABALACAT CITY – The intensified campaign against illegal drugs in this component city has netted a policeman and two others during a buybust operation in Barangay Dau here on Friday.
Mayor Crisostomo C. Garbo presented to the media the three suspects identified as PO1 Kevin Pierre Apostol alias Apo, 29; Angel Pabilonia alias Bench, 39; and Donato Felipe alias Don-don, 22, at the city hall here over-the-weekend.
This development prompted the mayor to form a group to combat the drug menace. Garbo also said he will put up a group called, “Kaluguran Ke Ing Mabalacat Movement (I love Mabalacat Movement),” which will be anti-illegal drugs, anti-criminality and anti-corruption.
“I call on members of the community to support this for Mabalacat,” Garbo said.
According to city police intelligence chief, Senior Insp. Jeffrey Jalandoni, Apostol, who resides in Barangay San Francisco here, is a member of the Arayat Police Office Intelligence Department who was formerly assigned at the city police office here as a “jailer” in 2016.
Jalandoni said after Apostol was implicated in illegal drugs, he was reassigned at the Bacolor Police Station but went on absence-without-official-leave (AWOL).
Apostol resurfaced and was subsequently assigned to the Arayat police as intelligence officer until his arrest, Jalandoni said.
The three suspects were caught during an anti-illegal drug buybust operation conducted in Barangay Dau here where the two other suspects reside.
Seized from the suspects were nine sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P5,000, P500 marked money used in the operation, a 9mm pistol, live ammunition, drug paraphernalia and personal belongings.
Atty. Emanuel Ignacio, city legal officer, said the suspects will face charges for violation of Section 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and violation of the Omnibus Election Code on gun ban.
Jalandoni said Apostol will also be facing administrative charges and will face possible dismissal from the service for his involvement in illegal drugs.
Garbo said illegal- drugs are not tolerated in this city. “We aim for a drug-free community so expect a continuity in this intensified campaign and operation against the drug menace,” the mayor said.
