Authorities arrested in Muntinlupa City an AWOL (absent without official leave) police officer for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Nabbed during a police buy-bust operation on Thursday was Victor Bustamante Jr., 37, a policeman formerly assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office.
Recovered from the suspect were five grams of shabu worth P68,000, a P10,000 marked money, two empty magazines of .9-mm Glock pistol, a sling bag and a mobile phone during the police operation.
Metro Manila police director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said his men from the NCRPO Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the drug sting around 2:45 p.m. near the Minimum Security Compound of New Bilibid Prison in Barangay Poblacion.
He added the NCRPO made the entrapment in close coordination with officers and men of the Muntinlupa City police station, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and PNP Integrated Monitoring and Enforcement Group.
Eleazar said an undercover agent managed to purchase five grams of shabu in two plastic sachets from Bustamante.
Records showed that Bustamante was recruited as Police Officer 1 by PNP NCRPO in 2011, then re-assigned to the Southern Police District but gone AWOL last February.
“He was monitored to be engaged in the illegal drug trade, hence a buy-bust operation was conducted to arrest him,” said Eleazar.
Bustamante is now detained at the NCRPO detention cell in Taguig City and is facing criminal charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
“He is not, in any way, connected with the Philippine National Police. For sure his apprehension will reduce the proliferation of illegal drugs in the different areas of this city,” said Eleazar.
