Cop, 2 Drug Pushers Nab in Calasiao

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO – In three separate operations, this town’s policemen arrested lately three illegal drug offenders including a cop.

Filipino policemen arrested as drug pushers

Those caught selling sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) were Ronald A. Domagas alias Tugak and Almar Bryan Untalan alias Gadong while nabbed sniffing shabu in a den was Police Officer 1 Jerry D. Mabanglo.

Domagas and Untalan were apprehended in Barangay Bued at 4:30 Pm and 6:30 Pm, respectively, of February 25, while PO1 Mabanglo was collared in a sting operation by the joint elements of Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 1 at 5 Pm of February 20.

According to Police Superintendent Joseph Rizaldy A. Dalope, the new chief of police here, Domagas, 25, and Untalan, 29, were arrested during a buy bust operation while they were allegedly in possession of the illegal substance.

Both have been each found to posses one piece of heat sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline granules believed to be shabu that they sold to the police’s poseur-buyer.

The illegal drugs and paraphernalia taken from them were brought at the Philippine National Police's crime laboratory office in Lingayen, Pangasinan for evaluation.  Cases of violation of Article II Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002) have been filled against the duo.

Supt. Dalope said that after the arrest of PO1 Mabanglo, his lawyer asked for the waiver of the inquest proceeding against him while he chose to be detained at the police station here as he waits for the result of his preliminary investigation (P.I) by the provincial prosecutor’s office.

Chief of Police  Superintendent Joseph Rizaldy A. Dalope (2nd from right) briefs his men.

A result of the P.I could be favourable to the accused when the prosecutor finds he is not criminally liable for the police charges or it could be unfavourable to him if the government’s lawyer finds probable cause for the court to try his case.

A source, who asked anonymity, told this paper that Mabanglo was found negative in a drug test when he was brought at the Regional Medical Center-1 after the PNP arrested him.

But he can still be indicted, according to the source, because the police found incriminating evidences in his possession. The spot report of the police station here showed that Mabanglo was found to possess shabu after his arrest aside from allegedly found sniffing the illegal substance.

“One plastic sachet containing white crystalline granules believed to be shabu, three pieces of open small heat sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu residue, six pieces disposable lighters, two pieces pair of scissors, 14 pieces of aluminium foil strips containing suspected shabu residue, one piece of improvised water pipe, one envelope containing one pack empty open transparent plastic sachets, one piece improvised rolled aluminium for tooter with suspected shabu residue,” the police spot report narrated.

Mabanglo is assigned at San Manuel, Pangasinan’s PNP station.

Spot report said he hailed in Padilla Street, San Carlos City, Pangasinan. The source said his wife, a police woman, is presently assigned in that city.

“The worst thing that could happen to him is to be sacked from the PNP because of the administrative cases the police will file against him,” Dalope said.

The chief of police, according to the source, is bent to arrest two drug pushers a week here despite the marching order of Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Rey Biay to all chiefs of police in Pangasinan to apprehend not less than three drug pushers a month.