Anti-narcotics agents confiscated some P20 million worth of high-grade cocaine following the arrest of a police officer during a buy-bust operation in Pasig City.

Arrested was SPO1 Alexander Estabillo, assigned at the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) who did not only yield four kilos of cocaine but was also caught with a .9 mm pistol during the operation.

Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the operation was carried out at around 11:30 p.m. in Barangay Ugong in Pasig City after a police asset was able to negotiate with Estabillo for the purchase of cocaine.

Espina said the arrest was announced after the P6-million marked money was allegedly received by Estabillo.

Authorities believe that the cocaine seized from Estabillo was part of the two tons of cocaine bricks dumped by a foreign fishing vessel near the shore of Samar province in December last year.

The huge shipment of drugs was reportedly dumped by members of an international syndicate for fear that they would be busted.

Estabillo was immediately taken to the headquarters of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) for investigation on where he obtained the cocaine.

Appropriate criminal and administrative charges will be filed against Estabillo.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) Branch 82 acquitted a man accused of illegal possession of methylamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) after the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the suspect involved.

In a seven-page decision for accused Edgardo Garcia, Judge Severino de Castro Jr. said the prosecution evidence gathered was “deficient” and that arresting officer PO2 Marcelo Lacdao failed to properly identify the shabu involved in the case.

“In fact, he mishandled the alleged evidence as his participation in relation thereto was its apparent “surrender” thereof to the investigator.

Added to it, the inventory report allegedly prepared thereafter was not properly identified and much less in accordance with the requirements of the law and implementing rules. In fine, there is here no showing that the integrity and evidentiary value of the seized item were properly preserved,” De Castro Jr. said.

According to Lacdao, he was able to apprehend Garcia on Nov. 21, 2003 at around 11:45 p.m. in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City. (With reports from Rizal S. Obanil and Eugene Y. Santos)