The commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau never thought he would ever be a subject of investigation by the same office that he leads.<\/p>\n
Incriminated by a court witness of his alleged participation in an illegal drug business deal, Police Captain Delbert Sablan has been placed under probe by the Department of Public Safety.<\/p>\n
Police Commissioner Charles W. Ingram Jr. ordered yesterday the start of the investigation, temporarily relieving the CIB official from his command.<\/p>\n
Pending the completion of the investigation, Mr. Sablan has been assigned directly under the Commissioner’s Office to perform administrative tasks.<\/p>\n
Mr. Ingram, however, said the action taken by DPS concerning Mr. Sablan does not constitute a demotion.<\/p>\n
The probe on the captain has been slated in cooperation with federal authorities.<\/p>\n
“Since he has been incriminated, it’s our duty to investigate. We have relieved him as CIB commander for the meantime,” said Mr. Ingram.<\/p>\n
The embattled police official has found himself in the hot seat stemming from remarks made Wednesday by Sonia Belyeu, a cooperating witness in the trial of convicted drug-trafficker Leo S. Pangelinan.<\/p>\n
Under oath, the key witness told the US District Court of the alleged involvement of the high-ranking DPS captain in the distribution of controlled substances.<\/p>\n
She claimed he had supplied her ice sometime ago.<\/p>\n
Mr. Sablan has steered clear from making comments, upon advise from his counsel.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for DPS, however, told reporters Mr. Sablan has no recollection of ever associating with Ms. Belyeu on any capacity, at any time in the past.<\/p>\n
Ms. Belyeu, a former live-in partner of Mr. Pangelinan, is an admitted former drug user.<\/p>\n
While testifying against the defendant, the witness also declared her involvement in the drug operation with her former boyfriend.<\/p>\n
To lessen the consequences of her alleged part in the operation, Ms. Belyeu struck a deal with the government, the defense panel through counsel Joseph Arriola had submitted.<\/p>\n
By pleading guilty to charges of illegal possession of metamphetamine or ice, Ms. Belyeu may meet a 20-year maximum jail term.<\/p>\n
The former Attorney General’s Office employee reportedly admitted she had no desire to spend a single day behind bars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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