20-year-old arrested for “selling nubain”

CEBU, Philippines - A 20-year-old man was arrested after vials containing liquid substance believed to be “Nubain” were confiscated from him in an anti-illegal drug operation at Sitio Santo Niño, Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City Friday night.

Cleve Ruben Saavedra of Sitio Indian, Barangay T. Padilla, is now detained at the detention cell of the Cebu City Police Office after being apprehended by operatives of the City Intelligence Branch.

According to Inspector Gomersendo Mandawe, CIB deputy chief, they first received complaints from relatives of students residing in Barangay Kamagayan that the students tend to skip classes to go to Saavedra’s place to buy nubain.

“Unya didto, ila kunong itusok sa ilang lawas gamit ang syringe,” said Mandawe.

With this, Mandawe said they immediately placed Saavedra under surveillance and monitoring, which lasted for almost a week before the operation was hatched.

At around 6:30 p.m. Friday, operatives arrested Saavedra after he allegedly sold to a police poseur-buyer a small bottle containing liquid substance believed to be nubain in exchange for P200.

Inside Saavedra’s bag, they were also able to confiscate another 130 pieces of small bottles with suspected nubain and three sealed syringes.

Mandawe said that in their initial investigation, Saavedra would not inform the police on where he got the nubain.

“Moingon ra man siya nga gibilin ra kuno sa iyaha unya baligyaan ra pud kuno niya kung naa’y mopalit. Mao ra pud storyaha na gud,” said Mandawe.

He said they will try to find out what pharmacy sold them several opiate drugs considering that nubain should not be sold without a prescription from doctors.

“Pain reliever man ni siya pero dili gyud unta ni madali-dali og palit sa mga botika. Mao na nga among i-try nga motug-an unta siya diin siya ani,” he said.

Mandawe, though, said they have yet to wait for the result from the Crime Laboratory if the vials really contain nubain.

If the results show that it contains nubain, Saavedra will be facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Acts of 2002.  (FREEMAN)