PDEA-7 agent arrested with drugs

CEBU, Philippines - An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 was arrested with an estimated P120,000 worth of shabu by elements of the Bohol Provincial Police Office in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion 2, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, last Friday night.

 Steven Valles, a PDEA agent assigned to the regional office in the Police Regional Office-7 headquarters in Cebu City, was arrested with three large packs and a medium pack believed to contain shabu.

BPPO director Insp. Jovito Atanacio said they have been receiving various reports of Valles’ il legal drug operations in their area and have been monitoring him for some time now through their assets.

It was just last week that they finally confirmed that Valles supplied the area with drugs from Cebu.

With the confirmation, operatives from the BPPO immediately planned a buy-bust operation and their police asset asked Valles if they can meet to transact three large bags of shabu.

Last Friday afternoon Valles allegedly texted the asset asking him to meet him in Barangay Poblacion 2 around 8 p.m. Together with the police, the asset arrived in the meeting place and bought the said drugs for P80,000.

When the suspect accepted the marked money BPPO operatives immediately arrested him.

Also found on him was a .45 cal., a .45 cal. magazine with 13 live rounds, four cellular phones, his PDEA badge and cash amounting to P160,250 in various bills.

Atanacio said the suspect goes to Bohol to study at a university every Friday and Saturday. He added Valles was once assigned to PDEA Bohol.  

Meanwhile, PDEA regional director Adrian Alvarion said they sent two of their personnel to investigate the arrest of Valles and his alleged connections in the illegal drug trade in the area.

He said the PDEA will not tolerate these kinds of acts by its personnel.

The three large packs believed to contain shabu have a street value of almost P100,000. The medium pack also believed to contain shabu was priced at P20,000.

Valles is facing charges for violating Article 2, Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

This ensued just a day after the killing of alleged drug pusher Antonio Salutan, 47, married of Barangay Candajic, Clarin town. The murder of Salutan is the second that took place within the vicinity of the Hall of Justice. Salutan was shot after attending a drug-related hearing.

PDEA representative Ricardo Palapar did not sign in the inventory of confiscated paraphernalia. Reports said Palapar’s refusal was sanctioned by the PDEA regional director but this was not independently confirmed by the PDEA regional office. (FREEMAN)