By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

BUSTED. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group nabs two persons deprived of liberty at the Bulacan Provincial Jail shortly after they left the detention facility without a court order on April 13, 2025. One of them is a jailed Special Weapons and Tactics member identified as Abdua, who heads the inmates as “mayor”. (Photo courtesy of CIDG)

MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Wednesday said it busted the privileges of a jailed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) member who has been lording it in a Bulacan provincial jail.

For a long time, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the former elite cop, identified as Abdua, enjoys certain privileges that include going out of the detention facility even without a court order.

He said Abdua heads the inmates as “mayor” after he was dismissed from the service and detained for a case of murder.

Also arrested were a certain Mario, a member of a prison gang tagged as the “Chairman of Barangay. 11” of the prison facility; a certain Tee-Jay, jail guard of Bulacan Provincial Jail; and Sarah, wife of Abdua.

On Sunday, the CIDG operatives monitored the four leaving the Bulacan Provincial Jail on board a red Toyota-Hi-Lux pick-up. They were later collared going to the house of Sarah in Malolos City, at least five kilometers away from the provincial jail facility.

The operatives seized from them a caliber 45 pistol, a Glock 17 9mm pistol, magazines, rounds of live ammunition, and the Toyota Hilux pick-up.

“This is a remarkable intelligence-driven operation. With this arrest, we significantly removed from the streets two dangerous prisoners with firearms, a rogue jail guard, and an accomplice,” Torre said.

Torre said the investigation is underway to identify the people behind the special treatment and if all of them are involved in illegal activities. (PNA)