• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
A government employee in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, fell in a buy-bust operation carried out by the Sta. Catalina Municipal Police Station on Saturday at Purok 6, Barangay Poblacion.
Arrested was Juan Miguel Magallon Bueno, 27, a government employee who the police tagged as a high-value individual and a resident of the barangay. However, the police withheld the information regarding his government position.
During the operation, police recovered from his possession 2 medium-sized pieces and 3 elongated pieces of sachets containing at least 13 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug value of P88,400.
Police also recovered a unit of Honda Beat motorcycle, which was allegedly used in transporting illegal drugs.
The suspect, who is now under police custody, will face criminal charges in accordance with sections 5 and 11 of RA9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, for selling and using illegal drugs.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW
With the recent anti-drug operations which led to the arrest of barangay officials in the region, Police Regional Director PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay reaffirmed yesterday during a media briefing, their commitment to hold anyone accountable, regardless of position.
“Regardless of who they are, even our fellow police, as long as they were accused of such an act, we will hold them accountable,” Ibay said.
In the past few months, several barangay officials have been nabbed for drugs across the region.
This include officials who were nabbed in Dumaguete City on September 25, identified as ‘Inah,’ 49, an incumbent barangay chairman of Brgy. Lo-oc, and alias ‘Matthew,’ a Sangguniang Kabataan kagawad of the barangay 2, Silay City, Negros Occidental.*
