Bulacan: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, Abdua, who was dismissed from the service and detained for a case of murder, has been heading the inmates as 'mayor'. The operation also led to the arrest of 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, the 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 apprehended while heading to Sarah's house in Malolos City, which is at least five kilometers away from the provincial jail facility.

During the operation, the operatives seized a caliber 45 pistol, a Glock 17 9mm pistol, magazines, rounds of live ammunition, and the Toyota Hilux pick-up from the suspects. "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 stated.

Torre mentioned that an investigation is underway to identify the people behind the special treatment and to determine if all of them are involved in illegal activities.