The two police troopers, linked to illegal drug peddling activities by an arrested drug pusher, are not yet off-the-hook, despite having tested negative for prohibited drugs.
Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, regional police director of Western Visayas, has ordered the investigation of Police Officer 2 Rex Capapas and Police Officer 1 Melchor Salcedo, for allegations that they are engaged in drug peddling activities.
Trisikad driver Rodrigo de la Cruz, who was arrested recently during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City, had claimed that Capapas and Salcedo provided him with shabu to sell.
Supt. Iver Apellido, director of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion, said that Capapas and Salcedo admitted to knowing de la Cruz as a trisikad driver in the area, but vehemently denied his allegations.
Both police officers are assigned at the 3rd Maneuver Company of 6th RPSB stationed at Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City, Negros Occidental.
De la Cruz said his transactions with them were made inside the camp, and that Capapas had been encouraging him to look for more buyers.
Apellido said de la Cruz just wanted to incriminate Capapas and Salcedo, as they were aware of his criminal activities.
Capapas and Salcedo were relieved from the 3rd Maneuver Company and placed under restriction at Camp Aniceto Lacson in Victorias City.
Cruz reiterated his zero-tolerance policy against illegal activities,which does not exempt police officers.
Should investigation show evidence of their involvement in illegal activities, Capapas and Salcedo will be slapped with administrative and criminal charges, he said.
Two other policemen, Police Officer 1 Roldan Villa, who is assigned at the Bacolod City Police Office, and PO1 Sherwin Esmedio of the Iloilo City Police Office, are also in hot water for illegal possession of firearms, and for possessing a sachet of suspected shabu.
The arrest of Villa at the onset of MassKara celebration in Bacolod City, yielded a .45 caliber pistol.
Cruz said Villa faces administrative and criminal charges for the offense.*GPB
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