ORMOC CITY— A suspected street-level drug peddler was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Team of the local police in Barangay Maslug, Baybay City on Thursday morning, November 6.

The suspect, identified only as alias “Ewin,” 48, married, and a resident of Barangay Maslug, was apprehended at around 11:44 a.m. He is listed as a street-level individual on the local police’s drug watchlist.

During the operation, police recovered one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, which was purchased by an operative for P500. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, yielded two more sachets of suspected shabu inside an empty transparent plastic container.

The confiscated illegal drugs weighed about 1.28 grams, with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P8,704.

Police said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he fully understood.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against him before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is now detained at the Baybay City Police Station lock-up cell.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– An incumbent barangay kagawad was arrested in a buy-bust operation jointly conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the station drug enforcement team of the local police on Thursday afternoon, November 6, in Barangay Sawang, this town.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Mon,” 35, single, a barangay kagawad of Barangay Sta. Fe and a resident of the same village. He is classified as a high-value individual (HVI) on the drug watchlist of both the local police and PDEA.

The operation, carried out around 3:20 p.m., resulted in the confiscation of eight sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu. One sachet was sold to an undercover operative for P500, while seven more sachets were recovered from a green plastic container found in the suspect’s possession.

Authorities also seized a P500 marked bill, P1,031 in cash of various denominations, one motorcycle key, and a blue-black SYN motorcycle used by the suspect.

Police said the seized suspected shabu weighed approximately 0.85 grams, with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P5,780.

The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he fully understood.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against him before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. He is currently detained at the Carigara Municipal Police Station lock-up cell.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) announced its readiness to provide immediate assistance to communities that were affected by Super Typhoon Uwan, with over P95 million worth of relief goods and standby funds already prepositioned across the region.

DSWD-8 assured the public that it is fully prepared to support local government units in their disaster response and relief operations.

The agency reported that its stockpile includes 79,605 family food boxes, 19,300 non-food items, 14,949 ready-to-eat food packs, and 1,744 bottles of drinking water. In addition, a P3-million standby fund has been allocated for quick response and logistical needs.

“These preparations form part of our proactive response to ensure timely assistance to affected families,” DSWD-8 said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the agency’s “Angels in Red Vests” continue to assist residents still reeling from the impact of Typhoon Tino, even as coordination and monitoring efforts are intensified in anticipation of Uwan’s possible landfall.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)