PDEA agent caught while using “shabu” in Laguna

September 29, 2019

An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), while allegedly using illegal drugs, and his companion were arrested in Laguna.

According to Laguna Police Provincial Office chief Colonel Eleazar Matta, the suspects identified as PDEA agent Richard Gaufo and Joseph Martin Patrick Borjal were nabbed in a joint implementation of a search warrant in San Pedro City Saturday afternoon.

The authorities implemented search warrant at the house of Borjal where illegal firearms were allegedly being kept at around 2:15 PM.

Matta said police seized one unit of Thompson Machine Pistol Caliber 45 with serial number 402475; US-30 Cartridge caliber 45; one unit of Caliber 40 Glock 22 Austria with serial number LRC278; two pieces of magazine of Glock 40; 25 pieces of live ammunition of Caliber 40; 12 pieces of live ammunition of Caliber 45; and fragmentation hand grenade.

Also confiscated were four pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu with an estimated weight of 5.15 grams worth P30, 000.00; one outside holster; two sling bags; a backpack and a fake PDEA identification card.

During the police operation, the PDEA agent was reportedly caught in the act of using illegal drugs in a bedroom.

About six heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu worth P70,000, a sachet of suspected methamphetamine residue, a glass pipe, a lighter and a sling bag was also collected from Gaufo.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino, in a statement, denounced the arrest of the agency's personnel.

"The arrest of PDEA agent Richard Gaufo for possession of various firearms and 10 grams of alleged shabu thru a search warrant for violation of RA 10591 (An Act providing for a comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition and providing penalties for violation thereof) is a proof that crooked law enforcers exist even in PDEA," said Aquino.

"PDEA will continue to support and cooperate with PNP (Philippine National Police) in our campaign against illegal drugs and PDEA also vowed to be stricter in the implementation of its internal cleansing to rid the agency of erring employees," he added. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS