Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, yesterday said he will direct an investigation on the allegations of a convicted drug peddler that BCPO Drug Enforcement Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency members have had illegal links with him before.

He also said they will file charges against those involved if there is enough evidence in Sammy Fajardo's claims that he used to sell shabu for DEU and PDEA members before his arrest in 2005, and eventual conviction and sentence to life-imprisonment on January 14 this year.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Fajardo named DEU chief, SPO4 Ernesto Gonzales, operatives PO3 Rolando Malate, and SPO2 Nelson Grijaldo as the officers who supplied him with shabu seized from their operations starting in 2002.

Grijaldo is among the 12 former cops wanted for the kidnapping and killing of Eluterio Salabas, Maximo Lomoljo, and Ricardo Suganob in 2003.

Fajardo also claimed that PDEA provincial officer, Senior Inspector Joemarie Occeño, had also given him shabu to sell.

He said he decided to expose these because the officers had not fulfilled their promise to help him with his case.

Fajardo also claimed that his arrest in 2005 by the PDEA in its own safe house at 4th Road, Alunan-Yulo Street, Brgy. Villamonte, in Bacolod , was based on planted evidence and happened after he remitted proceeds that was short of P15,000 to Occeño.

Occeño, who said he had not watched the interview, told the DAILY STAR last night he will give a formal statement today and provide records that would prove that Fajardo's allegations are false.

Gonzales, meanwhile, told ABS-CBN Fajardo's claims are not possible because they are required to submit the drugs they have confiscated to the BCPO crime laboratory within 24 hours of seizing them.

He added that Fajardo is a known among law enforcers as a drug-personality in Bacolod .

Gonzales also said he had visited Fajardo at the Bureau of Jail Management in Brgy. Handumanan but had stopped doing so because he has asked for many things, such as money and clothing.

Malate also denied Fajardo's allegations in a separate television interview, saying he knows the penalties that a police officer could face for doing them.

Quebrar said Fajardo could only be trying to get back at the officers, and it is easy for him to throw allegations against anybody, including him.

Meanwhile, Elena Alvarez, 44, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Regional Trial Court judge for illegal possession and sale of shabu.

Alvarez was arrested by PDEA operatives during a buy-bust sting in Brgy. Villamonte, on August 22, 2003 .

The officers reportedly recovered two sachets of shabu and P5,000 in marked money from her.

Alvarez said she is among those who have been denied justice but will leave her fate to God.*PP

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