KALIBO, Aklan – A man who was caught in a drug buy-bust operation in Numancia, Aklan denied selling drugs.
Two sachets of suspected shabu were recovered from the 24-year-old James Cipriano of Barangay Andagao around 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, a police report showed.
According to the report, Cipriano – a construction worker – sold the suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer for P4,000.
But Cipriano said, “Hindi ko pera ang nakuha sa akin. Hindi ako drug surrenderee at wala akong record.”
He added, “Nag-iinuman kami sa bahay ng tiyuhin ko. Lumabas ako para bumili ng pulutan, ngunit hinarang, pinadapa at inaresto ako ng mga kapulisan.”
Personnel from the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, 1st Aklan Provincial Force Mobile Company, and Numancia police station staged the sting operation.
“May nakuha kaming impormasyon three months ago na may taga-Calachuchi [road] na nagtitinda ng droga. Na-monitor natin siya at nakipag-transact kami. Na-buy-bust namin siya kanina,” PDEU head Chief Inspector Frensy Andrade said on Tuesday.
Cipriano evaded arrest in a drug buy-bust operation in Manila before, according to Andrade.
“May naikasang buy-bust dati sa Maynila. Involved ang suspek kaso nakatakbo siya at umuwi sa Aklan para magpalamig,” he added. “Kinukuha niya sa Maynila ang droga at ibinibenta sa Aklan.”
“Matagal siya sa Numancia kanina. Siguro may ka-transaction siya bago nag-okay siya na magbenta din sa amin,” Andrade also said.
Cipriano was detained in the lockup cell of the Numancia municipal police station.
Charges for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against him, police said. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
