COP FIRED FOR REPACKING ILLEGAL DRUGS

KALIBO, Aklan--Western Visayas police director Chief Superintendent Julius
Yarcia yesterday ordered the immediate dismissal of a policeman caught in
the act of repacking shabu with three Aklanons.

Yarcia also said Police Officer 1 Nonito Balbastro, who was assigned to the
Regional Office Support Group (ROSG), would be given no chance to plead his
case before the Philippine National Police.

"This will serve as a warning to other policemen not to violate the law
they are tasked to implement," Yarcia told The Manila Times.

He also directed Superintendent Oscar Aycocho, Aklan Provincial Police
Office (APPO) director, to retrieve all government-issued properties from
Balbastro, now detained at the APPO.

During a drug raid early this month, combined elements of the Aklan
Provincial Police Office and Kalibo Police Station caught Balbastro and
three suspected drug pushers inside a lodging house repacking shabu.

Judge Raul Barrios of the Kalibo Municipal Trial Court authorized the raid
on JB Lodge Room No.7 rented to Balbastro, Jovencio Mayor alias Taga, and
two Aklanons identified only as "alias Gary" and "alias Dong."

The raiding team recovered 11 plastic sachets of shabu weighing 22 grams,
three bladed weapons, and several drug paraphernalia.

Balbastro earlier took a leave of absence from the ROSG for some
undisclosed reasons and went to Aklan. ROSG is based in this city.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Ebardo, PRO-6 chief of staff, said
Balbastro had been relieved earlier after testing positive for drug use.

"With the speedy dismissal of Balbastro, we would like to show the people
that we implement the law without fear or favor," Ebardo explained.

He said Balbastro's dismissal is the first for the PRO-6 and that it was in
line with his effort to cleanse the ranks of the PNP organization."