A traffic constable of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who reportedly supplied UV Express drivers with “shabu” (methampethamine hydrochloride) was arrested in a buy-bust operation on Sunday.
Dexter Lucas, a member of the MMDA’s motorcycle riding team, was placed under arrest at the corner of Edsa and Muñoz in Barangay Veterans, Quezon City, around 4 a.m. on Sunday after he sold P500 worth of shabu to an undercover policeman.
MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos told the Inquirer that Lucas, who had been with the agency for 13 years, was undergoing retraining after his involvement in extortion activities last July.
Orbos said that Lucas should have been barred from performing his duties as he was also placed on floating status.
“I will definitely act on this. Immediately, I will put him on preventive suspension pending [the conduct of] summary dismissal proceedings. We cannot tolerate such misdeeds by our enforcers who are supposed to uphold the law,” he added.
Earlier, members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Masambong station arrested several drug suspects who pointed to Lucas as their source of shabu.
According to Masambong police station chief Supt. Igmedio Bernaldez, the MMDA traffic enforcer was known to be selling illegal drugs to UV Express drivers plying the Quezon City-Monumento or Quezon City-Malolos, Bulacan routes.
According to QCPD director Senior Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, Lucas’ customers preferred to transact with him because they thought there was a much lower chance of being caught as he was a figure of authority.
They also felt safer and “more protected” as it was not unusual for traffic constables to be seen with UV Express drivers.
Recovered from Lucas were two sachets of shabu and the MMDA-issued motorcycle he was using.
The MMDA’s team of motorcycle-riding traffic enforcers are required to undergo a special training program under the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the Philippine National Police. According to Eleazar, Lucas completed his training with the HPG in 2006, making him qualified to become a rider.
During questioning by the police, Lucas admitted being a shabu dealer although he denied it when he was interviewed by the media.
According to the police, he identified his shabu supplier as Jose Cua, a 66-year-old resident of Barangay Balingasa, Balintawak.
Cua, who was also arrested in a follow-up operation, admitted bringing drugs to Lucas although he clarified that he was not the main supplier.
He also claimed he had surrendered to authorities under Oplan Tokhang and had not been using shabu since President Duterte assumed office.
Eleazar said they would coordinate with the MMDA for possible administrative sanctions against Lucas.
As of Sunday, Quezon City policemen have arrested 1,792 drug suspects since July 1 when Eleazar became the head of the QCPD.– Maricar Brizuela
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