KALIBO, Aklan – Two drug pushing suspects were arrested in separate police buy-bust operations here on Feb. 25.
Anthony Fernando, 31, of Barangay Poblacion, New Washington, Aklan was caught around 1:20 p.m.
He sold a plastic sachet of suspected shabu for P2,000 to a poseur buyer along Diversion Road in Barangay Tigayon, police said.
Kalibo police chief Major Belshazzar Villanoche said the suspect was a delivery boy for online orders and relatively new in the drug trafficking business.
“Nahirapan tayo dahil alias ang ginagamit niya sa pagbebenta ng ilegal na droga. May impormasyon tayo na nagtitinda siya ng shabu sa Kalibo. Naka-konek ang asset natin,” according to Villanoche.
In conducting the buy-bust, the Kalibo municipal police station got the backing of the Aklan Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
“Sa Barangay Poblacion ang usapan ngunit doon sa Tigayon pinili ng suspek na ipagpatuloy ang transaksyon,” said Villanoche.
The other buy-bust operation collared 32-year-old John “Tamtam” Almero in Crossing New Buswang at around 3 p.m.
Almero, resident of Pastrana Street, Barangay Poblacion, was caught selling two plastic sachets of suspected shabu for P2,000, police said.
Almero, however, denied peddling shabu.
“May pumasok na lalaki na bumili ng softdrink at nag-order ng beef pares. Biglang pumasok din ang mga operatiba at pinadapa nila ako sa loob. May isang lalaki na pilit na inilagay sa aking bulsa ang buy-bust money,” said Almero, a carinderia helper.
The suspect had a previous arrest record – in 2016 for illegal drugs. Two years after, he was released from jail following a plea bargaining agreement.
“Hindi sa akin ang ilegal na droga. Hindi na ako nagtitinda,” Almero insisted.
Aklan PDEU chief Major Frenzy Andrade said the suspect was placed under surveillance for months prior to the buy-bust.
“Ilang beses kaming nag-try sa kanya na bumili at ngayon lang natuloy ang buy-bust operation. May nahuli tayo na nagsabi na siya (Almero) ang source ng ilegal na droga nya,” Andrade said./PN
