By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
A cop from the Northern Police District (NPD) who is included in the police drug watch list and three others were nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Malinta, Valenzuela City Saturday.
Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief, was not able to hold back his rage after seeing Pat. Jun Acosta, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Valenzuela City Saturday morning, July 27, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Northern Police District PIO / via Minka Klaudia Tiangco / MANILA BULLETIN)
Arrested were Patrolman Jun Acosta, 42 assigned at the NPD Police Intelligence and Operations Unit; Acosta’s live-in partner Vanessa Bayani, 28; Marianne Salas, 34, vendor; and Randy Delos Santos, 37.
Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, said Acosta has been a police officer since 2003. He was listed as a high-value target since 2017 after Rose Cruz, his former live-in partner who was arrested for drug charges in Caloocan City, told police that Acosta is involved in the drug trade.
The NCRPO chief lost his cool when he saw Acosta.
"Nakakahiya ka! Ikaw ang nakakasira sa imahe ng mga pulis (You're an embarrassment! You are ruining the image of the police)," he told Acosta. "Sisiguraduhin kong masisibak ka sa serbisyo, (I will make sure that you will be dismissed from the service)."
"Dati pang may reports na involved siya sa droga, pero wala kaming ebidensya (There were previous reports that he is involved in the illegal drug trade but we did not have any evidence then)," Eleazar said.
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The NCRPPO chief said Acosta was a supplier of illegal drugs, which he may have gotten from other drug suspects.
However, Salas, and not Acosta, was the target of the buy-bust operation, he said.
Elements of the Valenzuela City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the sting at a gasoline station along MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City at about 5:15 a.m.
The suspects were arrested after transacting a drug deal with a poseur buyer.
Retrieved from the suspects were six sachets of suspected shabu, the P500 marked money, Acosta's Philippine National Police identification card, a motorcycle, and a black Honda Wave motorcycle.
The arrested suspects will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).