DAVAO CITY (September 14) — Shame! this how a policeman described his feelings upon learning that a soon-to-be accepted member of his organization was caught selling prohibited drugs right infront the Police Regional Office XI, Friday at about 11:45 in the morning.
Senior police officers caught PO1 Querubin Cris John Ferido, 30, a PNP trainee of batch 2017 and a resident of Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City, red handed while selling drugs to PO1 Antiga.
The police officer who requested anonymity told NewsLine.ph “I hope this case will be an eye opener to us, as an organization, when a neophyte starts to violate our law, a thing that screening committee should look into, a deeper background check on applicants.”
Police XI director Police Superintendent Marcelo Morales in a press conference said all trainees underwent background investigation prior to their admission but this case is a new thing to them, given that he is a neophyte.
Police record shows, Ferido started his training on February 27, 2017, but it was interrupted, he was placed under the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Office or RPHAO after he was caught drinking alcoholic beverage while on training.
Ferido was wearing a police uniform when he sold illegal drugs amounting to P3,000.000 to PO1 Antiga, who was posing as shabu buyer, in a buy-bust operation at Purok 9, Catitipan, just in front of a gasoline station, facing the headquarters of PRO XI.
The team led by Police Chief Inspector Ronald Lao, commander of Talomo Police, conducted the buy-bust after a client of Ferido squealed that he is the source of illegal drugs in Talomo area.
Recovered from Ferido’s possession and control were 1 unit Honda XRM motorcycle with plate number 1775 LB with keys, 2 pcs samsung cellphone(touchscreen and keypad), 1pc 1000 peso bill with sn. Y189427 and two pcs machine copy of 1000 pesos (buy bust money), 800 pesos in different denomination (possession of the suspect) and PNP ID. Estimated street value of subject illegal drugs worth P3,000.
Morales in a press conference said “We are now in the process of identifying his associates while he was applying for the police and, while he was on training, baka may influence sya, that, we need to verify.”
During the same forum, Morales admitted, there are policemen who are in the illegal drugs watchlist but he said “They are being monitored and we are building up a case against them.”
Ferido, according to Morales, revealed some names of his civilian clients, who are now subject of the follow up operations.
Lao said, they are now preparing the charges against Ferido.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph