The policeman who was caught in the house of a suspected drug pusher was charged before the prosecutor’s office yesterday.
PO2 Bernard Almeda of the Borbon Municipal Police Office was accused of protecting a drug suspect in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Also charged was Zeev Tulod, a suspected runner who was caught with Almeda in the house of Edwin Cabahug who was targetted by the Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch in an operation Monday afternoon.
All 18 policemen assigned in Borbon passed a surprise drug test conducted yesterday.
Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr., chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, said the drug test was made to check if there are other policemen under the town police station who are involved in illegal drug activities.
Almeda and Tulod waived their right to undergo preliminary investigation after they appeared before Assistant City Prosecutor Jerome Abarca.
No bail was recommended for Tulod, who was accused of selling illegal drugs.
Almeda, on the other hand was allowed to post P200,000 bail.
Prosecutor Abarca explained that “protecting or coddling” anyone involved in the illegal drug trade is a bailable offense which carries a penalty of 12 to 20 years of imprisonment.
Almeda was all smiles as he was led out of the prosecutor’s office.
He refused to answer when reporters sought his comment on the charges against him.
Aside from a criminal case, the policeman will also be facing an administrative charge for grave misconduct.
During the arrest, police seized a .45 caliber pistol from Almeda while packs of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P50,000 were recovered in Cabahug’s house. /With correspondent Apple Ta-as
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