Arrested cop sold ‘tawas,’ not shabu?
BUY-BUST ARREST
BAYAMBANG— The campaign against illegal drugs in Pangasinan suffered a major setback when the criminal case filed against a policeman caught in a buy-bust operation inside a restaurant in Bayambang last week was dismissed by the provincial prosecution office for lack of evidence, leaving the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office puzzled and baffled.
The evidence referred to was the absence of shabu as evidence. It turned out that the substance seized by the combined elements that arrested f PO1 Sander Claveria, 26, resident of Barangay Buenlag, and submitted to the Crime Laboratory proved negative of the illegal substance.
The suspected shabu turned out to be “tawas.” (an alum which is a chemically hydrated aluminum potassium sulfate that possesses a specific crystal shape).
This led the local police to probe deeper into the circumstances that surrounded the buy-bust arrest and subsequent events.
Claveria, suspected to be peddling shabu in the town and nearby towns, was arrested in Barangay Tambac this town after he handed one heat sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu to a poseur-buyer, a policeman, in exchange for P3,000 bill marked money as payment during the buy bust operation.
The search incidental to the arrest yielded the three pieces of P1,000 bills marked money used in the buy-bust and two cellular phones believed to be used in transacting illegal drugs.
The buy-bust operation was conducted by the joint elements of Bayambang Police Station led by P/Supt. Gaston Cafongtan, Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force, the Provincial Intelligence, and i the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Superintendent Ferdinand de Asis, spokesperson of the PPPO confirmed Claveria was released from the custody of the police based on a resolution issued by the Provincial Prosecution Office.
Claveria, according to a police officer who was part of the arresting team, was reportedly wearing his police uniform and assigned to drive the police patrol car when he was caught in the buy-bust operation.
P/Sr. Supt. Reynaldo Biay, officer-in-charge police director, confirmed this in a text message last Wednesday.
De Asis said although the complaint against Claveria was dismissed, he is still facing an administrative case for misconduct and was ordered to report to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at Camp Oscar Florendo in San Fernando City, La Union which would require his physical presence in that area 24 hours a day.
De Asis said he too was surprised by the findings of the PNP Crime Laboratory as he knew that the operation against Claveria was well-planned and well executed, although he withheld making further comments as all the officers who participated, except those from the PDEA, are now under investigation by concerned police offices.
Biay said the administrative case against Claveria will push through but the criminal case is still being evaluated/studied.
Biay reportedly, ordered all those who participated in that operation on Thursday to a meeting where he informed them that they are all under investigation. (Tita Roces/Leonardo Micua /Johanne Macob)
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