2 cops cited in contempt, ordered detained for lying about drug involvement

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 15) – A Senate panel on Wednesday ordered the detention of two officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who were cited in contempt after supposedly lying about their involvement in illegal drug operations.

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs’ directive came after Police Senior Master Sergeant Jerrywin Rebosora and Police Master Sergeant Lorenzo Catarata were caught on CCTV carrying methamphetamine hydrochloride, more popularly known as shabu, despite denying ties to illegal drugs.

“We have enough basis to contempt you. You are lying. Harap-harapan niyo akong niloko. Klaro sa CCTV na kayo pala nagbalik nung shabu,” Sen. Bato dela Rosa said

[Translation: We have enough basis to contempt you. You are lying. You deceived me. It is clear in the CCTV that you were the ones who returned the shabu.]

“Future actions on you, will depend on the committee. Pag usapan namin sa committee kung anong pwedeng gawin namin sa inyo,” he added.

[Translation: Future actions on you, will depend on the (Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs). We will talk about what we will do with you.]

The detention of the two police officers is part of the senate’s power to hold anyone who hinders its investigations.

The 42 kilograms of shabu seized last October were allegedly kept by Rebosora and Catarata.

The seized drugs were part of the 900 kilograms of shabu conficated at a lending company owned by relieved Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo.

Meanwhile, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) heads have denied rewarding informants with seized illegal drugs during their term.

Wilkins Villanueva, who was named PDEA chief in 2022, said within his 20-year service in PDEA, the distribution of illegal drugs as reward has never happened.

“Sa totoo lang, kung sa nangyari sa akin yun, poposasan ko talaga yung dalawa na yun,” said former PDEA chief Aaron Aquino, who was appointed in 2020. “Ang lakas ng loob lumapit sa DG (director general) to make an offer.”

[Translation: Honestly, if that happened to me, I would really handcuff those two. The audacity to approach the director general and make an offer.]

Isidro Lapeña, who was PDEA chief in 2018, also denied rewarding illegal drugs to informants during his term, saying they did their “best [to have] a very vigorous campaign against drugs.”

According to Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, the alleged recycling of illegal drugs was revealed by an asset of the PNP and PDEA in an executive session during a House hearing.

READ: PDEA, PNP asset confirms seized illegal drugs rewarded to informants — lawmaker 

CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this story.