Scene caught within Sandiganbayan premises, QCPD says cops just eating peanuts

MANILA - The Sandiganbayan on Thursday sent to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa CCTV footage reportedly showing cops repacking alleged shabu inside a patrol car while parked within the court compound.

The footage, which showed "possible illicit activity" involving policemen, was caught inside Sandiganbayan premises from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning.

"We are transmitting herewith a copy of the Court's Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage taken from its premises on the evening of August 22, 2017, up to the early hours of August 23, 2017, which suggests possible illicit activity committed by members of the Philippine National Police inside their police patrol car, with body number "QC 57," Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said in her letter to Dela Rosa.

The incident happened just as the PNP drew heavy condemnation over the slay of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos in an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City last week which, per witness statements and video evidence, appears to be a setup.

Reporters asked Cabotaje-Tang if the CCTV footage may be viewed, but she refused due to a pending police investigation.

The CCTV footage reportedly showed policemen repacking what appears to be shabu inside their vehicle.

The Quezon City Police District earlier said the policemen were just eating peanuts while taking a break inside the Sandiganbayan parking lot and that they have also tested negative for shabu.

In her letter, Cabotaje-Tang also attached two incident reports from the Office of the Sheriff and the Sandiganbayan's Security Service Division.

Cabotaje-Tang also refused to give a copy of the incident reports to the media saying the case is an internal matter.