Pubdate: Sun, 28 Aug 2005
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983
Author: Annabelle Ricalde and Johnny Agustin
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Philippines

EMANO TO RAISE BRIBERY SCAM TO CAMP CRAME

MAYOR Vicente Emano threatened to bring the bribery controversy
involving an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in
Region 10 to the attention of PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao if the local
leadership failed to resolve it.

Emano said he would elevate this matter to Camp Crame if the regional
PDEA failed to act on the irregularity. The mayor said this was not
the first time that PDEA agent was involved in a wrongdoing.

The mayor further said the case should not be allowed to pass because
the people would lose trust in the PDEA operations

PDEA-10 agent Isah Taurac was caught accepting a P30,000 bribe from
Moreto "Budoy" Jabagat, brother of suspected drug pusher Eric Jabagat,
in a recent entrapment operation.

The supposed entrapment operation was done at the back of PDEA office
by the regional police intelligence office.

PDEA 10 Regional Director Rene Orbe admitted that while there were
plans to conduct an entrapment operation on one of their agents this
was not pursued. Orbe said the PDEA-10 agent in question may have
known about the entrapment operation that is why it was dropped.

But in an interview with Moreto "Budoy" Jabagat, brother of arrested
suspect, he confirmed to Sun.Star that bribe money was indeed given to
a PDEA agent.

He said it was P10,000 cash applied with fluorescent powder when he
handed it to the lawman. He said it was Taurac who received the money,
which was placed in an envelope.

The entrapment operation was planned when Moreto sought the assistance
of NBI after Taurac allegedly asked P50,000 from the Jabagat's in
exchange for a lesser offense to be filed against Eric and the chance
to post bail.

Moreto asked that the amount be lowered to P30,000 and he paid P20,000
as first payment. Moreto said the payment for the other P10,000 to
Taurac was done behind the PDEA-10 office.

He said the NBI-10 agents were unable to catch Taurac receiving the
P10,000 cash since he left the PDEA-10 office immediately.

After receiving the money, Taurac pocketed it and ran along with his
fellow agents towards their office on the far corner, Moreto alleged.

Moreto said he was surprised that nobody among the law enforcers who
watched him during that time had arrested the PDEA agents.

NBI-10 Regional Director Virgilio Mendez said his people did not enter
the office out of concern that there might be a shoot out between the
NBI and PDEA agents.

Orbe claimed that the money given by the Jabagat family to the PDEA 10
agents was done in "good faith."

The PDEA 10 official said his people admitted receiving the money from
the Jabagat family. Eric Jabagat, a resident of Colrai, Macabalan was
arrested by PDEA-10 agents last Sunday through a search warrant.

Orbe said the Jabagat family intended to give the money to the PDEA-10
officials so the case against Eric Jabagat would be settled.

He said Taurac was placed on preventive suspension and was restricted
to their office. Orbe vowed to probe deeper into the case.
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