THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has filed criminal charges against 10 more policemen for allegedly bungling their assigned drug cases by not appearing in court hearings.

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said that the filing of charges against the policemen shows his agency’s commitment in not only ridding the country of illegal drugs but of cleansing its own ranks.

Those who were charged with violations of Sections 91 (nonappearance) and  92 (delay and bungling), of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were Senior Police Officer 2 Belto Coritana, Police Officers 3 Zaldy Asama, Rene Saul and Cleto Montegrejo, P02s Orlando Dionisio, Victor Aquino and Reynaldo Labon, and P01s Estelito Mortega, Arnold Peñalosa and Frederick Saet.

Santiago said that if proven guilty, the policemen could be jailed for 20 years and be separated from the service.

Earlier, the PDEA also filed similar cases against five other policemen.

Santiago said that the policemen bungled 63 drugs cases pending with the various courts in Quezon City by not appearing during the proceedings, which led to the dismissal of the cases.

Meanwhile, Police Center for Aviation Security (Picas) agents arrested Monday a Malaysian for alleged possession of dried marijuana leaves and unidentified medicines at the Zamboanga International Airport in Zamboanga City.

Supt. Ibar Padao, Picas director, said the marijuana leaves and unidentified medicines were found in the baggage of the Malaysian when he checked in for his flight home.

Padao identified the Malaysian as Kosalai Poomavelu, 50. He was on his way to Malaysia from Davao City.

Padao said Picas agents got curious when Poomavelu refused to allow the airport security personnel to inspect his baggage before he entered the predeparture area.       

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THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has filed criminal charges against 10 more policemen for allegedly bungling their assigned drug cases by not appearing in court hearings.