• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
In a decisive move against illegal drugs, law enforcers arrested a high-value individual and a retired Philippine Army in a separate buy-bust operations on Friday in Victorias and Calatrava, respectively, in Negros Occidental.
A 29-year-old high-value individual at Purok 5, Daan Banwa, Barangay 9, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was arrested on Friday, which led to the confiscation of more than P300,000 worth of suspected shabu.
The suspect was identified only as a 29-year-old construction worker with a live-in partner and a resident of the barangay.
During the operation, which was led by the Victoria Component City Police Station, police seized from his possession about 17 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 54 grams with a standard drug price of P367,200.
On the same day, a retired member of the Philippine Army was arrested at Purok Horizon, Barangay Salong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental for illegal drugs.
Arrested was alias “Viok”, 60-years-old, male, married, a retired Philippine Army soldier, and a resident of the barangay.
The police confiscated from his possession 10 sachets of suspected shabu amounting to P340,000 pesos.
Both suspects are now under the custody of the police and will face criminal charges in violation of sections 5 and 11 of the RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, for selling and using illegal drugs.
The confiscated drug items will be forwarded to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit in Bacolod City for laboratory examination, police said.*
