Authorities arrested a Pasig City police officer for using a motorcycle which was seized as evidence in a drug buy-bust operation, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) reported Thursday.
Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, IMEG director, said the arrested cop was identified as Cpl. Esteven Mark Pandi, who is involved with the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Pasig City Police.
According to Lee, law enforcement nabbed Pandi along Evangelista Street in Santolan on Wednesday.
“The suspect was caught in the act while using a motorcycle without plate number, which was owned by an arrested drug personality during an Anti-Illegal Drug Operation in Pasig City last October 04, 2019, and the said motorcycle was included in the inventory of confiscated evidence,” Lee said in a statement.
Pandi was also spotted having back rides on the confiscated motorcycle, which is a clear violation of general community quarantine protocols.
The arrested police officer is now under the custody of the PNP-IMEG as criminal charges are being readied for filing against him, Lee added.
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Jeepney drivers affected by lockdown in Batangas cry for help
Due to the community quarantine implemented by the Lipa City, Batangas government in March, jeepney drivers were not able to earn money for more than two months now.
Nilo Kison, a jeepney driver, also said he received no help from the government.
“Mula noon hanggang ngayon, wala kami. Tapos ngayon may balita kami na meron daw kaming makukuhang ayuda, ‘yung sa mga jeepney driver at operator ay wala namang nadating sa amin hanggang sa ngayon,” said Kison.
His brother, Raymund, who is also a driver, have two children to enroll at the school. So he has been looking for other ways to reduce their expenses.
“Meron akong taniman sa likod ng bahay. Ayun nagtatanim-tanim kami. Kapag dumating ang panahon na humaba pa ang pandemic na iyan, may maaani ako,” he said.
Despite that, the brothers had no intention of returning to the streets until there was no vaccine and medicine for COVID-19, even though jeepneys were allowed to travel in areas under the general quarantine community in the Philippines.
Jeepneys are only allowed to operate on 50 percent capacity due to physical distancing.