Parañaque Police Operation Results in Arrest of Officer for Drug Trafficking

PARAÑAQUE CITY — A police officer was arrested early Sunday morning during a drug buy-bust operation conducted by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Parañaque City. The operation marks a significant arrest within the police force as part of ongoing efforts to cleanse the service of corruption and misconduct.

According to Philippines News Agency, the officer, identified as Cpl. Neil Bagunu, 31, who is currently assigned to the National Police Training Institute (NPTI), was apprehended after he accepted marked and boodle money from an undercover agent in exchange for shabu (methamphetamine). The arrest occurred around 2:30 a.m. at Purok-2 Formost Street in Barangay BF Homes. During the operation, authorities seized PHP136,000 worth of drug paraphernalia and a .45-caliber pistol from Bagunu.

Following his arrest, Bagunu was taken to the Parañaque Police Station, where he now faces both criminal and administrative charges. Nartatez highlighted that this arrest is part of a broader crackdown within the NCRPO, which has seen over 500 officers dismissed for various infractions since last July.

In related news, another operation led by the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group in Pasay City resulted in the interception of a significant drug shipment on Friday. Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta reported that the shipment contained 3,742 tablets suspected to be ecstasy, valued at approximately PHP6.3 million. The illegal drugs, declared as a “shoe rack” and sent from Belgium, were seized at the Central Mail Exchange Center. The drugs have since been turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for further action, and charges are being prepared against those involved in this smuggling operation.