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)
