ROXAS City – Three individuals were arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Baybay.
They were identified as the 29-year-old Brian Anthony Bulaclac and live-in partners Paulo Aranza, 24, and Mary Nhel Costillo, 23. They are all residents of Roxas City.
Suspected shabu contained in 11 plastic sachets valued at around P84,000 was recovered from them, police said.
The suspects were arrested after they sold suspected shabu to an undercover member of the Roxas City Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) for P1,000 around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Aside from the suspected drugs, drug paraphernalia were also confiscated from the suspects.
Aranza is a surrenderee under the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Tokhang” and a son of Barangay Baybay kagawad Reynaldo Aranza, according to village chief Reynaldo Magallanes.
“Indi na sia (Aranza) aktibo sa pagduso sang droga pero ang iya live-in partner amo ang aktibo,” Magallanes – who worked with the Roxas DEU for the conduct of the drug sting operation – told Panay News.
He added: “Natingala lang kami nga kon ipatawag namon sia (Aranza) wala na sia naga-attend sa drug rehabilitation activities nga gina-conduct sang Barangay Drug Abuse Council.”
When asked for comment about his son’s arrest, Reynaldo Aranza said: “Bata ko na sia sa dugo kag lawas pero indi sa painoino.”
On the other hand, Bulaclac told the police that he was only asked to deliver the “items” by a certain “Jojo.” He added that he did not know the items were illegal drugs.
Aranza, Costillo and Bulaclac were detained in the lockup cell of the Roxas City police station.
They were facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
