Man arrested for drug trade, says it’s for wife’s medicine

CEBU, Philippines- A man allegedly operating an illegal drug business to sustain his ill wife’s medicine, was arrested after police confiscated at least P118,000 worth of suspected shabu inside his house in Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Arnel Irinque, 44, was detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 detention cell after several packs of suspected shabu was found inside his residence during an anti-illegal drug operation.

The operation was carried out through a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras.

Superintendent Fermin Armendares III, deputy chief of the CIDG-7, said a month ago, they received information about Irinque’s alleged illegal activity in their barangay and in Barangay Talamban.

Armendares said they monitored Irinque’s daily activities and had a test-buy operation to prove that Irinque was indeed involved in selling illegal drugs.

He said they even pretended to sell fighting cocks to Irinque, who is also fond of it, to closely monitor the suspect.

“Napamatud-an gyud nato labi na sa atong test-buy operation,” he said.

Armendares said after two weeks of monitoring, the CIDG-7 went to Irinque’s residence to implement the search warrant which led to the suspect’s arrest.

The police were able to seize two large, two medium and 17 small packs of suspected shabu that amounted to at least P118,000, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board value.

Armendares said Irinque is a level-two drug pusher who has long been involved in the illegal activity.

In an interview, Irinque admitted that he was selling illegal drugs but told reporters he just started last month. He said he gets his supply of illegal drugs in Barangay Pasil.

Arnel said he engaged in drug peddling because he had no other work and needed to find a way to sustain the medicine of his wife, who has been suffering from nervous breakdown.  (FREEMAN)