Police applicant nabbed for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A police applicant was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City last Monday night.

The suspect was identified as Dennis Evalle, 28, an alleged level three drug pusher engaged in illegal drug peddling when he applied but failed in this year's recruitment program of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said City Intelligence Branch (CIB) chief Romeo Santander.

Several packs of shabu were seized from the suspect when he was arrested at 9:30 pm in sitio Mahayahay after he sold a pack of suspected shabu to a policeman who posed as poseur-buyer and further yielded nine more packs of the same illegal drugs.

Santander said the drugs seized amount to P10,000.

Also confiscated from the suspect were four gambling machines, which he denied owning, but believed to have been getting his share as the machines were placed in his house, said Santander.

Santander said that based on their surveillance on Evalle, the suspect has been engaged in selling shabu even before he applied for the PNP this year.

It was because of this information that during background check, the Criminology graduate's illegal activities were found out and he eventually failed in the recruitment, added Santander.

"Sa documentation phase pa lang, failed na siya then sa background investigation. Wala na siya ka go through sa neuro exam," he said.

The CIB chief further disclosed that Evalle has been into illegal drug peddling for about a year now and based on the information gathered, the suspect's live in partner was also engaged in it.

With this, Santander called on to future PNP applicants to just do well in their lifestyle.

"Don't engage in illegal for the reason that we're now stricter in checking your background. Mahibaw-an ug mahibaw-an ra g'yud namo 'na. Dili sayon ang pagsulod (in PNP), but dali ra ang pagtangtang," he warned.

Charges for selling and possession of illegal drugs were filed against the suspect, who reportedly admitted selling shabu, said Santander.  (FREEMAN)