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Friday, March 29, 2024

Shabu-sniffing cop out on bail

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THE police officer caught sniffing shabu late last month was released from detention after a Las Piñas City court judge allowed him to post bail on Friday.

Southern Police District chief information officer and spokesperson Jenny Tecson said Police Supt. Lito Cabamongan, who was arrested at the height of the government’s crackdown on drug dealing, posted P240,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

“Judge [Lorna] Domingo of RTC [Regional Trial Court] Branch 201, Las Piñas City approved the application for bail and release order of Supt. Cabamongan by posting a bail of P240,000,” said Tecson.

Cabamongan, who was also found positive for illegal drug use following the results of a laboratory examination early this month, is the highest police officer nabbed for illegal drug use so far as the Philippine National Police continued its campaign against suspected drug pushers and dependents in the country upon the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The authorities initially filed charges of violations of Sections 13, 14, and 15 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Cabamongan.

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Section 13 refers to the possession of dangerous drugs during parties and meetings, which is non-bailable, Section 14 refers to the possession of paraphernalia, equipment, instruments of drugs and Section 15 refers to the use of dangerous drugs.

But the court downgraded the cases filed to Section 12 which refers to the possession of drugs and paraphernalia, and Section 15 which are both bailable criminal offenses.

The court also denied the government prosecutors’  prayer to consider Cabamongan’s status as a high-ranking policeman as an aggravating circumstance that would deny his application for bail.

Cabamongan, 50, formerly head of the Crime Laboratory-Southern District Satellite Office in Muntinlupa City, and suspected drug pusher Nedy Sabdao, 44, were arrested after being caught sniffing shabu in a house inside Everlasting Homes in Barangay Talon IV, Las Piñas City late last month. 

After the arrest, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa rushed to the Las Piñas City Police Station to reprimand the suspect. He said Cabamongan’s arrest clearly showed there are no sacred cows in the PNP’s war on illegal drugs. 

Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office announced that it has dismissed from the service 46 policemen, suspended 63 and demoted four others since July last year for their involvement in various illegal activities.

It also sent and reassigned more than 300 police officers to Mindanao following their involvement in illegal activities and other abuses in a bid to correct their shortcomings and improve their performance.

According to NCRPO chief Oscar Albayalde, the move is in line with the advocacy and thrusts of the PNP leadership on internal cleansing. 

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