Drug courier claims
irregularity in arrest

While he admitted to being a courier, the man arrested by the police for illegal possession of drugs and paraphernalia in Bacolod City late Monday, claimed yesterday that the officers who apprehended him had not declared the full amount of the money recovered from him.

Robert Diaz, 20, of Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, in the city, claimed that the three officers, who arrested him for possession of a sachet of shabu and an improvised tooter at a gasoline station at Lacson Street , in the city, at about 11 p.m. Monday, took most of his money that was more than P4,000 and reported only a part of it.

Police records show, however, that PO2s Ronilo Molato, Richard Delasa, and PO1 Jerome Javier had reported to the desk officer of Police Station 2 that, aside from the prohibited substance and the paraphernalia, the only items seized from Diaz were a handkerchief, a cellphone, a pouch, and P240.

Diaz, who admitted that he has been acting as a middleman for drug dealers in Purok Sigay for a year now, also said that when he asked the officers about the rest of his money, they called him a liar and one of them kicked him.

An inmate next to Diaz's lock-up cell, however, said he cannot attest to the suspect's claim as he was asleep at that time and only came to know about the alleged incident from him later.

Molato, Delasa, and Javier were not on duty yesterday, but Police Station 2 commander, Inspector Rie Gumban, said that he was aware of the allegations and added that they are not true, based on his own investigation.

He added that Diaz could just be making up the story to get back at the officers.

“How could he have that money if he has no job?” Gumban asked, adding that if the cash were proceeds of Diaz's drug running activities, he could face further charges.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, on the other hand, said that he will order an investigation on the allegations. He, however, added that Diaz could just be making them up.

Larry Trinidad, a Radyo Agong reporter who witnessed the arrest, said that the money recovered from Diaz was indeed only P240.

He added that Diaz was heavily intoxicated with drugs at the time and even tried to resist arrest.

‘ SUSPICIOUS'

Police records show that security guard Alejandro Capunong requested for police assistance when he sensed that five men were doing something “suspicious” at one of the station's comfort rooms.

Diaz was arrested while still holding the improvised tooter, police reports said.

The suspect did not answer when asked whether he will file charges against the officers, but added that he hopes to get out of jail soon.*PP

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Identity of slain
woman known

The police yesterday said they are eyeing the possibility of molestation or a nervous breakdown in the death of a woman found in a deserted lot in Bacolod City Monday as a family member has identified the victim, Police Station 6 commander, Senior Inspector Ulysses Ortiz, said.

Teresita Alegre, 55, of City Heights , in the city, was found naked in an abandoned lot at Lacson Street , at about 9 a.m. Monday. Her body was identified by her daughter.

Reports said Alegre has been loitering in the area and was believed to have suffered from a mental illness.

Ortiz said they cannot tell yet what had caused her death until the result of the autopsy on her body comes out today.

The Bacolod City Anti-Mendicancy Task Group said they have been rescuing vagrants and rugby users from the city's streets in hopes of returning them to their families.

The AMG also said, however, that they can only do so much in trying to clear the streets of vagrants and in looking after them.*PP

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