ORMOC CITY — A 45-year-old tricycle driver listed as a street-level drug personality was arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Balangiga Municipal Police Station on Friday night, June 26, in Barangay Bacjao, Balangiga, Eastern Samar.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Rene,” is a resident of Balangiga and is included in the local police’s drug watchlist.
Police said the suspect sold a sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu to an undercover operative for P500 during the anti-drug operation.
A body search conducted in the presence of the required witnesses led to the recovery of two additional sachets of suspected shabu concealed inside the suspect’s belt bag.
Authorities also recovered P700 in cash, including the marked P500 buy-bust money, a lighter, and a red Honda TMX Supremo motorcycle with a sidecar believed to have been used by the suspect.
The suspect was informed of the reason for his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Police are preparing charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against the suspect, who is currently detained at the Balangiga Municipal Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges.
(ROBERT DEJON)
