Man who used son as drug courier charged

The 46-year-old man who was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 for using his 12-year-old son in selling shabu was charged before the court yesterday.

Nestor Tejas of barangay Lorega-San Miguel was accused of violating Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, an offense punishable by life imprisonment.

Aside from the drug charges, the police are also planning to file a case against him for violation of Republic Act 7610, or Anti-Child Abuse Law, for using his son as drug courier. “

Because of the gravity of his offense, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended that Tejas will not be allowed bail for his temporary liberty pending the resolution of his case.

“Tejas earlier admitted selling shabu, but denied he had been into the illegal drugs trade for a long time, as claimed by the CIDG agents. He said it was the first time he sold illegal drugs after a neighbor encouraged him.

“CIDG agents under Supt. Rex Derilo said that the 50 grams of shabu they seized from the accused may reach P500,000 at P45,000 to P50,000 per five grams. “

Some of Tejas’ neighbors were actually the ones who tipped the police about his illegal activities, which prompted Derilo’s team to place Tejas under surveillance.

It was the team that included SPO2 Delfin Bontuyan - who posed as the buyer - that arrested the accused.

Before his arrest, the CIDG agents who used a tinted vehicle already spotted and monitored the activities of Tejas in barangay Lorega-San Miguel while he was with his son who was carrying a plastic bin containing rooster pellets.

“When Bontuyan handed over the marked money to Tejas, the alleged drug pusher quickly instructed his son to take the illegal drugs, sealed in one big pack, from a plastic container. – Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV