NUMANCIA, Aklan – A tricycle driver was caught in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Aliputos, police said.
The 51-year-old Ronaldo Rose of Barangay Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan was arrested around 4:20 p.m. on Friday after he sold suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer, a police report showed.
Provincial Drug Enforcement Agency Unit (PDEU) head Chief Inspector Frensy Andrade said Rose handed three plastic sachets of suspected shabu to the undercover officer for P6,000.
“Hindi siya nahahalata na nagbebenta [ng droga] dahil tricycle driver siya,” added Andrade.
But Rose denied that he sells drugs. He said the suspected shabu recovered from him was “planted.”
Rose added that he had a passenger in Barangay Aliputos that day. When he was on his way home, the police officers arrested him.
Rose’s statement contradicted that of Andrade.
“Umamin siya na nagbebenta siya ng droga,” the PDEU chief said.
“Hindi siya drug surrenderee. Bibili siya ng droga at i-recycle, gagamitin at ibebenta niya. Isa siyang freelancer,” Andrade added.
Rose was detained at the Numancia police station lockup facility.
He was facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Joint elements of the PDEU and the Numancia police station staged the sting operation. (With a report from Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
