ORMOC CITY– A ‘habal-habal’ driver was apprehended in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of the Biliran Provincial Police Office and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police on Monday, March 24, at around 8:29 pm in Blk 1, lot 38, Cool Mont Crest, Barangay Caneja, Naval, Biliran.
Police identified the suspect as alias “Arnold,” 48, and a resident of Barangay Villa Caneja.
During the operation, an undercover operative successfully purchased one sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect for P500. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of required witnesses, led to the recovery of two additional sachets containing a white crystalline substance, also suspected to be shabu and a marked P500 bill used in the transaction.
Authorities have yet to determine the total weight and estimated value of the confiscated illegal drugs, pending verification by the Regional Forensic Unit (RFU) 8.
The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights in a language he understood. Charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed against him at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
He is currently detained at the Naval Municipal Police Station’s lock-up cell, awaiting further legal proceedings.
(ROBERT DEJON)
