ORMOC CITY— Police arrested a high-value individual listed in the Regional Priority Target List (RPTL) after a buy-bust operation in Barangay Ichon, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, on Thursday afternoon, December 18.
Operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the Macrohon Municipal Police Station arrested the suspect, identified only as alias “Pert,” 45, single, unemployed, and a resident of the same barangay, at around 2:14 p.m.
Recovered from the suspect were eight sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu. Four sachets were allegedly sold to a police operative for P4,000 during the buy-bust transaction.
A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, yielded four more sachets concealed in a white paper.
Police also recovered four P1,000 bills, one of which was genuine and pre-marked, while the remaining three were boodle money used as buy-bust bait. Additional items seized included P1,020 in cash believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales and a green lighter.
The total weight of the confiscated suspected shabu is still subject to confirmation by the Regional Forensic Unit 8 (RFU-8).
Authorities said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is currently detained at the Macrohon Municipal Police Station’s custodial facility.
(ROBERT DEJON)
