Bigtime pusher nabbed in Pasil

Police arrested a bigtime drug pusher and seized P16,000 worth of the prohibited drug shabu from him in a raid in barangay Pasil Wednesday afternoon.

Joel Baca, 32, was arrested around 5 p.m. by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch by virtue of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 12 judge Raphael Yrastorza at his house along Ramon Magsaysay Street. Baca is capable of selling up to 200 grams to a kilo of shabu a week

CIIB chief Paul Labra said that Baca, also known as Joel Baga, was first arrested with 200 grams of shabu in a raid in barangay Labangon in 2001. But the suspect was acquitted in the case after the prosecution failed to present PO3 Cesar Pandong, who found the illegal drug during the operation.

The prosecutors thought it was no longer necessary to present Pandong because they were confident of Baca's conviction.

Three medium packs of shabu weighing over eight grams was seized from Baca during Wednesday's raid. The raid was witnessed by Pasil barangay captain Romeo Ocarol and his two tanods.

Baca, who has been in the illegal drugs trade for quite sometime, was included in the exposé made by Rep. Antonio Cuenco in 1997.

Reports said Baca usually acquires his shabu supply from Ozamiz City.