ORMOC CITY– A habal-habal driver listed on the local drug watchlist was arrested after authorities seized 10 sachets of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Monte Alegre, Isabel, Leyte on November 9.
PLt. Ian Jay Fabrero, officer-in-charge of the Isabel Municipal Police Station, identified the suspect as alias “Wentz,” 36, single, and a resident of the same barangay. He is classified as a street-level individual in the police drug watchlist.
One sachet of suspected shabu amounting to P500 was purchased by an operative during the entrapment. A subsequent body search — conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses — yielded an orange plastic container marked “Tiktak” that contained nine more sachets of suspected shabu.
Police also recovered the P500 marked money (serial number AA7075368) used in the operation and the suspect’s service motorcycle, a black Skygo motorcycle with plate number 695HMQ.
Authorities said the seized illegal drugs weighed approximately 0.67 grams, with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P4,556.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood, police added.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Ormoc City, while the suspect remains detained at the Isabel police lock-up cell.
(ROBERT DEJON)
