ORMOC CITY— A parked subcompact car rolled forward and collided with a sport utility vehicle (SUV) after its driver allegedly failed to engage the hand brake along P. Inocentes Street in Barangay Santo Rosario, Naval in Biliran on Saturday morning, May 9.

Police identified the vehicles involved as a black Mitsubishi Mirage driven by a 69-year-old retired government employee and a Toyota Fortuner SUV driven by a 29-year-old veterinarian from Naga City.

According to the Naval Municipal Police Station, the incident occurred at around 10:46 a.m. after the Mitsubishi Mirage, which was parked behind the SUV, suddenly rolled forward and struck the Toyota Fortuner parked in front of it.

Responding police officers said they received a report from a concerned citizen through a cellphone call and immediately proceeded to the area to verify the incident and conduct an investigation.

Initial investigation showed that the driver of the Mitsubishi Mirage had temporarily left his vehicle to buy something from a nearby store. Upon returning, he discovered that the vehicle had moved forward and hit the parked SUV.

The driver later admitted that although he placed the vehicle in parking mode, he forgot to engage the hand brake, causing the car to roll forward.

Police said the Mitsubishi Mirage sustained scratches, dents, and detachment of its right rear bumper, while the Toyota Fortuner incurred scratches and damage to its left front bumper. The estimated repair costs have yet to be determined.

No injuries were reported during the incident. Both parties reportedly agreed to settle the matter amicably, and the vehicles were later released to their respective drivers.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY — A 66-year-old alleged high-value drug suspect and two other suspected drug personalities were arrested after police seized six sachets of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cavite East,Palo, Leyte on Thursday night, May 14.
Operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Palo Municipal Police Station carried out the operation at around 8:51 p.m. in Zone 6 of the barangay.

Police identified the suspects only by their aliases: “Gido,” 66, unemployed and listed as a high-value individual; “Deo,” 66, unemployed; and “Jerry,” of legal age and a butcher. The latter two were identified as street-level drug personalities. All three are residents of Barangay Cavite East.

Authorities said “Gido” was the primary target of the operation. He allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover operative.

A body search conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses led to the recovery of two more sachets containing white crystalline substances believed to be shabu, along with the marked P500 bill used in the operation.

Police also recovered three additional sachets of suspected shabu and personal belongings from the two other suspects during separate body searches.

The suspects were informed of the nature of their arrest and were apprised of their constitutional rights in a language they understood.

Authorities said the exact weight and estimated street value of the confiscated suspected illegal drugs are still being determined by the Regional Forensic Unit 8.

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

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY — A 22-year-old houseboy was arrested after police recovered more than P8,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Sto. Niño,Isabel in Leyte on Saturday night, May 16.

Operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Isabel Municipal Police Station carried out the operation at around 7:49 p.m., resulting in the arrest of the suspect identified only by his alias “Polding,” a resident of the said barangay.

Police said the suspect allegedly sold one sachet containing suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover operative during the entrapment operation.

A subsequent body search conducted in the presence of required witnesses led to the recovery of one medium-sized plastic sachet and four smaller sachets containing white crystalline substances believed to be shabu.

According to police, the total estimated weight of the confiscated illegal drugs was 1.192 grams, with an estimated street value of P8,105.60 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation.

Isabel police chief Lt. Sergio Llaneta III said the suspect was informed of his arrest and was apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

The suspect is currently detained at the Isabel Municipal Police Station lock-up cell while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against him.

(ROBERT DEJON)