MANILA - An officer of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) and 6 civilian assets have been arrested for engaging in a scheme where they arrest Chinese drug traffickers and set them free after getting their drugs and money. PNP CIDG Director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong said Police Chief Inspector Bienvenido Reydado, head of Pampanga CIDG, has been relieved of duty and is now detained in police headquarters with six civilian agents, some of whom have pending warrants of arrest for murder. The operation against the rogue CIDG elements comes after two months of surveillance on the "Agaw-Bato Group," which operates by arresting known drug traffickers and confiscating their cash and illegal drugs. The group then releases the suspects, keeps the cash and sells the drugs. "Ang ginagawa nila dito ay hinuhuli nila yung mga Chinese drug traffickers, kukunin nila yung drugs, kukunin nila yung pera and at the same time, papakawalan nila. Ine-negotiate nila, papakawalan nila yung mga drug traffickers. Kukunin nila yung mga drugs at ibebenta nila," Magalong said. Authorities recovered several unlicensed firearms and 2 million pesos in cash believed to be proceeds from drug transactions following a raid on the CIDG office in Pampanga and the group's safehouse in Balagtas, Bulacan. "We launched the operation and continue to build a very strong case vs police chief Inspector Bienvenido Reydado, head of Pampanga CIDG, and tuloy-tuloy and ating investigation ngayon and this accomplishment will trigger the investigation of other incidents involving policemen involved in the same modus. Agaw Bato. Huhuli ng mostly Chinese i-ne-negotiate tapos pakakawalan yung drug trafficker," Magalong said. Magalong said all personnel of the Pampanga CIDG, including the regional chief, have also been relieved. He said charges will be filed against the suspects, adding that they will not tolerate crimes carried out by CIDG personnel. Meantime, authorities plan to investigate similar incidents involving men in uniform to clean the ranks of the police.
