TACLOBAN CITY- A carpenter and a laborer were busted for alleged drug selling in two separate anti-drug operations last week.
In a joint operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP), authorities arrested Michael Picardial, 31, laborer and a resident of Barangay 107, Sta. Elena, New Hope Village, in Tacloban City on February 19.
Confiscated from the suspect, who earlier surrendered under the Oplan: Tokhang, were two pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be “shabu” weighing 2.0 grams with an estimated market value of P13,600.
In Maasin City, operatives also caught Glenn Batistil, 41, married and a carpenter from Brgy. Combado on February 18.
During the buy-bust operation, police recovered 13 pieces of alleged shabu weighing 1.5 grams with an estimated value of P10, 200 and drug paraphernalia.
The two suspects are facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) under Article II of RA 9165.
(RONALD O. REYES)

In Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY- About eight regular employees of the provincial government in Eastern Samar have sought relief before the Civil Service Commission (CSC)on their transfer.
On their petition, Helen Cadalin, Cirilo Quinsayas, Rowel Moscosa, Gwendolina Gunda, Rosie Rapal, Ariel Evardone, Vivian Lavado, and Norodom Victor Pinarok claimed that the detail order issued to them by Governor Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal should be recalled describing it ‘whimsical, capricious, and illegal.’
The appellants, on their January 23 joint petition, said that the move of Gov. Picardal was in contrary to CSC Resolution Number 1800692, or the Omnibus on Appointments and other Human Resource Actions.
They claimed that they were removed from their respective posts and offices and were transferred to their new assignments of which they were not trained or familiar.
They also claimed that the detail order issued to them by Gov. Picardal is being construed by them as a constructive removal as it did not indicated the number of days or months on their stay to their new assignments.
“We low salaried rank and file employees, individually received such document purporting to be re-assign/detail order without prior written notice, information and/or hearing on the reasons, nature and cause of our individual transfer/detail from the Office of the Governor and/or the Human Resource Management Office,” they said on their joint petition.
The affected personnel, prior to their reassignments, belong to different offices under the Office of Governor like the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Legal Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development, Human Resource, and Provincial Agriculture.
All were reassigned to different district hospitals in the province like the Albino M. Duran Memorial Hospital based in Balangiga town; Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital in Guiuan; Taft District Hospital; Quinapondan Community District Hospital, among others.
The transfer of these affected employees were made by Gov. Picardal due to ‘exigency of service.’
Earlier, provincial administrator George Erroba said that the governor initiated the transfer of several provincial employees where they could best serve the people of Eastern Samar.
Erroba also dismissed insinuations that the transfer was politically-motivated. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte-Anti-drug elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-8) together with the Bato Municipal Police Station arrested a drug personality during the conduct of a buy-bust operation at Barangay Dalho, Bato Leyte on February 21, 2019 at around 2:02 pm.
In a report submitted to PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino elements of PDEA RO8-LPO and PDEA-8-RSET under Director Edgar T. Jubay together with Bato MunicipalPolice Station identified the suspect as Lowel Solante alias “Lowel Galeon”, 36, and a barangay tanod of Iniguihan District of said town.
Purchased and confiscated during the said operation was one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu weighing 0.04 gram with an estimated market value of P 272.
The suspect will be facing charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs), Article II of RA 9165.
Solante is now temporarily detained at Bato MPS Lock-up Jail Facility. (PR)