PDEA agent hurt in recent Ermita buy-bust operation

CEBU, Philippines - The buy-bust operation in barangay Ermita last Tuesday night may well substantiate the observation that the number of crimes in a society corresponds to the number of people who accepts them.

Neighbors of a suspected drug pusher hurled stones at elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 who facilitated an arrest at around 6 p.m., and in the process hit agent Mark Maramba on the back.

Maramba, along with his colleagues, arrested suspected drug pusher Victor Macaraya, 32 years old, after the latter allegedly sold a pack of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer.

Aside from Macaraya, 24-year-old Marlon Flores was also nabbed for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jessie Tabanao, assistant public information officer of the PDEA in Central Visayas, said that neighbors of Macaraya surrounded the agents and jeered at them.

Afterwhich, Tabanao said, the PDEA agents moved back to prevent the angry crowd from approaching them. But when they were about to withdraw from the area, he said, some children again hurled stones at them.

“Gibato mi sa mga bata. Duda mi gisugo sila sa ilang mga ginikanan,” Tabanao said.

Seized during the operation were a small pack of suspected shabu and the P200 marked money. Another big pack was confiscated from Macaraya after he was frisked.

Macaraya told reporters he was just playing billiards when the agents arrived. In fact, he said, he got shocked when agents moved to handcuff him.

According to Tabanao, Macaraya was the only target of the said operation because of the persistent reports they received on his alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

Macaraya further pointed out that the real target was a female drug pusher.

But Tabanao denied this as Macaraya was already placed under their surveillance for almost two weeks.

The two arrested persons are now at the PDEA detention cell while waiting appropriate charges to be filed against them.

As for any development on the condition of Maramba, no further details were disclosed yet. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)