Gerona, Tarlac – Hulidap cops?
A recently arrested pusher here spilled the beans and claimed he was mulcted by 2 cops months ago.
John Ibanez Zacarias, 47, of Barangay Abagon, was nabbed in a buy-bust operation last Thursday and who told investigators that he was also arrested several months ago but was released after paying P15,000 to 2 policemen.
He was entrapped by Intel Unit of this police station led by PO3 Mike Lester Bustillos.
In an interview, Zacarias identified the cops who mulcted him as by PO1 Rogelio Almazan Jr and PInsp Randy Niegos and recounted his previous arrest last March 22 (Holy Tuesday) by Almazan and Niegos at their house in Barangay Abagon when he handed a sachet of shabu to a police informant.
Apparently, Zacarias has executed an affidavit detailing his “arrest” last March 22 by Almazan and Niegos and their receiving of the P15,000 cash.
“Mga alas diyes ng umaga ‘yun, Martes Santo, hinuli ako nina Almazan and Niegos sa bahay namin at tinanong nila kung may pang-areglo ako at sabi ko kausapin nila ang auntie ko. P15,000 ang hinihingi nila pero P5,000 lang ang pera ng auntie ko kaya dinala nila ako sa (police) station. After 2 hours, nang dumating ang P10,000, pina-uwi na nila ako”, said Zacarias.
PSupt Ariel Red is the former chief of police of this town until his, and Almazan’s, re-assignment to Capas, Tarlac, last month while Niegos heads the Intelligence Unit of the Gerona poloice station to this day.
In a separate interview, Zacarias’ aunt, Angelina Ibanez, confirmed Almazan’s and Niegos’ arrest of his nephew last March.
“P5,000 lang ang pera kong naibigay sa dalawang pulis (Almazan at Niegos) dito sa bahay noon kaya nag-pautang pa ako ng P10,000. Pagkabigay namin ng buong P10,000 pina-uwi na nila ang pamangkin ko”, said the old woman Angelina.
Last year, Almazan hugged the national news when he reportedly manhandled a mediaman Nelson Bolos.
“Maraming nagrereklamo sa pulis na ‘yan (Almazan), dapat matanggal na ‘yan base sa attrition law. PNP 2005 batch siya pero hanggang ngayon PO1 pa rin”, Bolos said.
Under the PNP Law, policemen who are not promoted within 10 years are subject to attrition and demoted by one rank. A cops who remained police officer 1 for 10 years are dismissed from the service.
Zacarias disclosed that his “Sinumpaang Salaysay” are with Gerona police officer-in-charge PCIn Rustico Raposas. He is now detained without bail for violation of Section 5 (peddling of illegal drugs) and Section 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of RA 9165./George Hugo FB: Tarlac News Center