FORMER MARIKINA COP ALSO A DRUG PUSHER?

A former Marikina City policeman arrested for indiscriminately firing
his gun during the New Year revelry was listed in the city's order of
battle on illegal drugs, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas, Marikina City police chief, said
he set up several anti-illegal drug operations to catch red-handed the
suspect, PO3 Gary Lee, but he has always managed to evade elements of
the local anti-drug unit.

"His drug pushing activities is an open secret but all our plans to
pin him down in his illegal activities produced negative results,"
said Rojas in an interview.

Metro Manila police chief Director Ricardo de Leon admitted that Lee
was a priority target of Rojas in his anti-drug drive.

De Leon emphasized that Lee is awaiting his dismissal orders when the
incident occurred so he is no longer an active policeman.

After realizing that he was included in the Marikina City police
"order of battle" on illegal drugs, Lee started not reporting for work.

His last assignment was as sentry duty at the Marikina City police
headquarters.

However, three months ago, Rojas cornered Lee, disarmed him of his
caliber .9mm automatic pistol and worked for his dismissal from the
police service.

During the confrontation, Rojas said Lee denied peddling drugs. But he
did not state the reason why he was skipping work.

At about 1 a.m. last Thursday, Rojas said they received a telephone
call from a male caller informing them that an armed man was
indiscriminately firing his gun at the height of the New Year
celebrations in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

When elements of the Police Community Precinct 3 (PCP3) accosted the
armed man in Sitio Tumana, he turned out to be Lee, who yielded an
unlicensed caliber .45 Mark 1V automatic pistol.

Lee denied firing his gun, which authorities discovered as unlicensed.
He was charged with illegal possession of firearms before the Marikina
City prosecutor's office.

"We finally bagged him," said Rojas, adding that Lee's drug pushing
activities will be neutralized with his detention.

The police would also subject Lee to drug tests to determine whether
he is under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of the
incident.