ORMOC CITY-A newly identified female drug peddler and her patron were arrested by operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police during a buy-bust operation on Wednesday afternoon, February 19, in Barangay Cabalquinto, Calubian, Leyte.
Cpt.Alexander Alfonzo, town police chief, identified the suspects as alias “Wena,” 40, a jobless resident of Brgy. Cabalquinto, and alias “Joseph,” 34, a married farmer from Brgy. Kawayanan, who was present at the scene during the operation.
According to PCPT Alfonzo, “Wena” was the primary target of the operation following complaints from neighbors about disturbances caused by her visitors.
During the sting, she was caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover operative. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of mandated witnesses, led to the recovery of a self-sealing plastic package hidden in her underwear, containing 88 sachets of suspected shabu, along with the marked P500 bill and three P100 bills believed to be drug proceeds.
Meanwhile, a search of “Joseph” yielded a maroon body bag containing four sachets of suspected shabu, six P100 bills, and one P50 bill, also suspected to be drug proceeds.
Both suspects were informed of their rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language they understood.
They are now facing charges for violations of Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) under Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The charges have been filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office against the suspects who are temporarily detained at the Calubian Municipal Police Station.
(ROBERT DEJON)
