KALIBO, Aklan – A surrenderee under the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Tokhang” was caught in a drug buy-bust operation in Ibajay, Aklan.
The 43-year-old Emmanuel “Mata” Garcia was arrested after he sold two sachets of suspected shabu to an undercover officer for P2,000 in Sitio Agbucad, Barangay Aquino around 2 p.m. on Sept. 20, police said.
Garcia – a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Ibajay – had been under surveillance for a month, said municipal police head Chief Inspector Ariel Nacar.
“Na-monitor siya ng mga operatiba na nag–i-engage sa illegal drugs kahit surrenderee siya,” said Nacar.
“Ang suspek ay hindi kasama sa top 10 [drug] watch list ng Ibajay pero lumabas ang kanyang pangalan dahil sa monitoring natin. Naging positibo ang transaksyon sa kanya,” he added.
Joint personnel from the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, 1st Aklan Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Ibajay municipal police station staged the sting operation.
“Sa labas ng Aklan niya kinukuha ang droga at ibinenta niya sa mga kilala,” added Nacar.
Aside from the suspected shabu, a mobile phone and P16,981 cash were also recovered from Garcia.
“Dati gumagamit ako ng droga ngunit ngayon hindi na dahil sa takot ko ring makulong,” said Garcia, who had undergone the community-based rehabilitation program of Oplan Tokhang.
“Habang pauwi sakay ng motor, inabangan ako ng mga pulis, pinadapa at hinuli,” he added.
Garcia was detained in the lockup cell of the Ibajay municipal police station, facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
