Dismissed for shabu use, ex-cop nabbed in drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A former policeman who was dismissed from service for illegal drug use was arrested in an anti-narcotics operation afternoon of October 26 at San Rafael, Iloilo.

Reybert Abawan, 48, a resident of Barangay San Andres, San Rafael, initially resisted arrest but was subsequently subdued by arresting officers.

Members of San Rafael Municipal Police Station, together with personnel from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Provincial Intelligence Unit and the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, launched the operation against Abawan after a two-week monitoring.

Abawan was immediately collared after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P500.

When frisked, the suspect yielded nine more sachets of suspect shabu weighing around 12 grams and valued at P81,600.

Lieutenant Johnny Oro, San Rafael police chief, said the suspect used to be assigned to the PNP Special Action Force.

Prior to his dismissal from service, he was assigned to the PNP Aviation Security Group in Cebu City.

He was dropped from PNP rolls after he was found positive for illegal drug use in 2016.

Abawan returned to San Rafael and went into farming.

But lately, an informant tipped the local police of his illegal drug trade business.

Abawan is now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).