Man arrested for transporting Nubain

CEBU, Philippines - A case for violation of City Ordinance 1427 was filed yesterday against a 47-year-old man who was found with 500 ampules of Nubain at a checkpoint at the South Road Properties last Monday afternoon.

Aside from the 500 ampules, police also found 100 vials from Celso Labiano, a resident of Biak-na-Bato, Castillano, Negros Occidental. The items were found when the policemen checked the taxi Labiano was riding together with a 12-year-old girl.

The police team led by Insp. Gualberto Gabales flagged down the taxicab ridden by Labiano when for customary checking, but they became suspicious when Labiano quickly handed over five small boxes to the 12-year-old girl sitting at the rear seat.

The ampules were discovered when the cops checked the boxes. Gabales was placed under arrest after he failed to present a prescription from a physician. He claimed that the ampules were to be delivered to Iligan.

In an interview with GMA7’s Balitang Bisdak, the girl said in tears that she has been accompanying the suspect in delivering the items many times. She said she was never aware that the items were illegal.

The seized items will be forwarded to the Bureau of Food and Drugs while the police check how they were able to slip passed concerned authorities.

The police said the 12-year-old girl will serve as witness in court against the suspect.

City Ordinance 1427 regulates the sale of Nubain (analbuphane o nalbuphine hydrochloride), Tramal (tramadol hydrochloride) and Stadol (butorphanol tartrate), all pain killers.

It prohibits sales without special prescription from physicians accredited by the Dangerous Drugs Board, as well as the selling of the drugs to minors. – Niña G. Sumacot/JMO   FREEMAN NEWS)