Alleged drugs supplier, cop arrested during Laguna police raids

A major Laguna illegal-drugs supplier was among those arrested during a series of Tuesday morning police raids in Sta. Maria and Sinoloan towns,  GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" reported.

The alleged drug dealer, Melvin Valderama, was found sleeping in one of the raided homes. He claimed that he could not walk because of a back ailment and was forced to use a wheelchair.

Valderama also explained that he took illegal drugs because of his back pain. "Kapag may nananakit (lang) po," he said.

According to Senior Superintendent Vic Cabatingan, chief of the Laguna Provincial Intelligence Branch, Valderama was only pretending to have a disability. He added that the suspect was the alleged source of illegal drugs in at least four Laguna towns: Sta. Maria, Sinoloan, Mabitac, and Famy.

Valderama's sibling was also allegedly involved in illegal drug operations in Sinoloan.

Meanwhile, to the raiding team's surprise, Police Officer 1 Christian Cuento of Sinoloan's anti-drug unit was among the suspects caught in the raid.

Cuento denied having anything to do with the illegal drugs and claimed he simply stayed over with the suspects after a drinking session.

"Hindi naman po talaga ako gumagamit o protector or what. Lagi ko rin po siyang sinasabihan na niya kasi walang magandang maidudulot," explained the officer.

Laguna provincial police director Senior Superintendent Cecilio Ison emphasized that it did not matter that Cuento was a police officer. He would be treated as a suspect.

"Sa part na rin ng internal cleansing ng PNP (Philippine National Police). So kahit na kabaro, kahit na pulis iyan, talagang isu-subject natin iyan. Huhulihin natin," said Ison.

Some 18 sachets of shabu and 10 sachets of marijuana were also seized during the police raids, with Cuento's police pistol the only weapon found and confiscated.

Cabatingan said that the marijuana they found seemed to be fresh, suggesting there was a nearby plantation.

"Ang pinagtataka ko dito, mga fresh pa talaga. So hindi pa iyung tuyong tuyo. Unlike doon 'yung manggagaling sa hinterlands. Tinitignan natin ang anggulo diyan na baka mayroong taniman talaga sa Fourth District ng Laguna," he explained. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News