By Raydes B. Barcia
Legazpi City – A former lady cop classified as a high value individual was nabbed by her former brothers-in-arms due to illegal drug trade.
Police Lt. Col Maria “Malu” Calubaquib, Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Spokesperson, said that the former lady policewoman was arrested at Zone 1, Barangay San Rafael, Bato, town in Camarines Sur the other day.
In an operation conducted by the composite team of police operatives from provincial, municipal, and local police in Camarines Sur in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the suspect was identified as Richelle Magalona Mata, 40-year-old resident of Barangay San Rafael, Bato, Camarines Sur.
Calubaquib said that Mata was formerly connected with the Magarao Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office but was dismissed due to her involvement with the use of illegal drug during the random drug testing facilitated by Police Regional Office 5 in 2019 as part of its internal cleansing program of the PNP.
During the recent operation of the police, the suspects old to a poseur-buyer at least three sachets of suspected “shabu” weighing more or less 13 grams. The operating team determined the value of P54,400.00.
The suspect who is now under the custody of Bato MPS will be charged for violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022 or R.A. 9165.
“Magalonda abandoned her designation and was marked as absent without leave (AWOL) after she tested positive for using illegal drugs “shabu,” and eventually dismissed from the police service” she said.
An investigation is also underway to verify her involvement in other illegal transactions and activities pertaining to the sale and use of illegal drugs. The PNP Bicol, under the command of Police Brig. Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas, closely unites with several agencies to bolster its efforts in order to identify and arrest individuals engaged in illicit acts more particularly on drugs.
Similarly, the unit continue to administer random drug-testing among its ranks to weed out members who were swayed to use the same.