"Pusher" tags cop as drug supplier

CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected drug pushers were arrested in separate raids conducted by the police in the cities of Talisay and Carcar over the weekend.

One of the suspects tagged a police officer assigned at the Police Regional Office-7 as his drug supplier.

Albert “Apar” Salem, 42, resident of sitio Galaxy, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City was arrested yesterday morning after policemen recovered one medium pack of shabu in his possession.

Salem, a former seaman, was subject of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 57 Enriquita Belarmino. Supt. Eddie Recamara, Talisay City police chief, said Salem is alleged ly a level two drug pusher operating in Barangay Tangke capable of selling P200,000 worth of illegal drugs every week.

 Aside from a medium pack of shabu estimated to be worth P5,000, the police also recovered a digital weighing scale, Caliber . 45 pistol with one live ammunition from Salem’s house during the search.

Recamara said Salem admitted during tactical interrogation that he gets his drug supply from a policeman. Recamara however refused to reveal the name pending verification but he said it has a rank of Senior Police Officer 4.

PRO-7 chief Marcelo Garbo said he needs a written document from Salem for him to be able to conduct an investigation against the concerned policeman.

“If testimonial evidence lang it’s hard to prove we should follow the proper procedure,” Garbo told The FREEMAN.

Garbo however said he will have the information validated by the Regional Intelligence Division.

“Intelligence guys can work on it to pin down the subject officer,” Garbo said.

He added that they will have to exercise caution with regards to information coming from drug suspects because of the possibility that the suspect may just have making up stories to cover up his illegal activities.

In a separate drug operation, Lilibeth Dayondon, 30, was arrested by the members of the Carcar police last Saturday morning Sitio Lagang, Barangay Bolinawan.

Dayondon was also subject of a search warrant issued by RTC Branch 17 Judge Sylvestre Maamo.

Police recovered 19 small packs of shabu worth P5,700 already in a toilet bowl about to be flushed. Dayondon reportedly tried to dispose of the illegal drugs after seeing the members of the raiding team.

Dayondon is also identified as level two drug pusher in Carcar City.

The Carcar police as well as that of the Talisay City are already preparing charges for violation of the Republic Act 9165 against Dayondon and Salem, respectively. — /FPL (FREEMAN)