TALAO-TALAO, Lucena – A police officer was arrested by Philippine Port Authority (PPA) personnel carrying suspected illegal drugs shortly after passing through the port’s X-ray baggage machine in Bgy. Talao-Talao, here, yesterday.
Quezon police director Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra identified the arrested policeman as PO3 Ian Jay Mogol, 34, of Bgy. Dulong Bayan, Mogpog, Marinduque, and presently assigned at Gasan Municipal Station in Gasan, Marinduque.
Yarra said Mogol was about to board a Marinduque-bound ship when he was held and disarmed of his cal. 9mm pistol by port police and elements of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
He said the policeman’s bag yielded six cut transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu residue and two used aluminum foils.
City police director Supt. Dennis de Leon said that at around 9 p.m. Tuesday, elements of PCG based in the adjacent village had received a radio message from PCG based in Batangas City informing them that Mogol will be transporting illegal drugs from this city to Mogpog, Marinduque.
Upon receiving the information, De Leon said the PCG immediately informed the PPA personnel about it.
De Leon said the seized pieces of evidence were submitted to Quezon PNP Crime Laboratory at Camp Guillermo Nakar for examination.
He said Mogol was detained at the city custodial facility while violations of Sec. 11 of Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 will be filed against him.
During investigation, the suspect told officer-on-case SPO1 Jefferson Tamaray that he was about to report to his provincial director in Marinduque to clear his name when he was held at the port.
“Paluwas daw sana siya ng Marinduque dahil nadawit ang pangalan niya sa issue ng droga at inutusan siya ng kanyang hepe na mag-report sa kanilang provincial director,” said Tamaray.
Asked why he was in Lucena at the time he was arrested, the suspect told Tamaray that he just visited his wife in Laguna.
Clarification
In a separate interview by Marinduque News Online to PSI Dennis R. Mauricio of Gasan Municipal Police Station, he clarified that PO3 Ian Jay Mogol is a relieve personnel and assigned in Boac Municipal Police Station.