Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday confirmed that the officer fatally shot on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) previously landed on the government’s drug watchlist – but was cleared of drug involvement.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said Police Senior Master Sergeant Solomon Cugay, who was slain Tuesday, was among the drug-linked uniformed personnel in a 2016 list released by President Rodrigo Duterte. Cugay was accused of coddling or protecting drug personalities and recycling or selling seized illegal drugs.
“According to the [Metro Manila Police] Regional Director, kay General [Guillermo] Eleazar, ito ay na-adjudicate na and naclear na siya (Cugay). And for two years basically walang nakitang illegal activity siya. So he was actually adjudicated before but totoo ‘yun na nasa listahan siya,” Albayalde told reporters.
[Translation: “According to Metro Manila Police Regional Director General Guillermo Eleazar, the case was adjudicated and Cugay was cleared. For two years, basically no illegal activity was found by authorities. So he was actually adjudicated before but it’s true that he was on the list.”]
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind Cugay’s slay, while Albayalde said it may or may not be drug-related.
“While sinasabi nga natin he was really adjudicated previously baka meron naman pa siyang nasagasaan or baka meron pa siyang naging competitor before,” Albayalde said.
[Translation: “While we are saying that he was really adjudicated previously, he might have enemies or competitors.”]
The country’s top cop is wondering how the assailant or assailants – it remains unclear – managed to kill Cugay less than a kilometer away from the PNP’s headquarters in Camp Crame, where the San Juan City’s patrol car was supposed to be on duty.
“Mayroong patrol car ng San Juan diyan palagi (A San Juan patrol car is always there). I don’t know if that patrol car was there or not (during the killing),” he said.
Cugay was on board his motorcycle when shot on the southbound lane of EDSA-Connecticut in Greenhills, San Juan City at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Police said he had multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities have yet to identify any suspect.
