ORMOC CITY-A village official yielded two sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu during a buy-bust operation led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the anti-drug enforcement unit of police in Paranas, Samar on June 23 in Barangay Buray at about 9:20 pm.
PDEA Regional Director Gil Pabilona identified the suspect as Ruel Nadela, and an incumbent barangay councilor of Buray.
The suspect is listed as a high-value individual on the drug watch list of both the PDEA and the local police.
Recovered from the possession of the suspect were two sachets containing suspected shabu weighing 2 grams with a commercial value of P15,000.
The suspect strongly denied that he was into illegal drug trade as he disowned the illegal items seized from him.
Charges of violations of sections 5 & 11 of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002 were filed against the suspect who is temporarily detained at the locked-up cell of Paranas municipal police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)
