3 arrested in Pardo drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - Authorities have arrested three persons who were caught allegedly selling illegal drugs during an entrapment operation inside a drug den in Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City on Thursday evening.

Suspects were identified as Ryx Delfinado, 25; Jeffrey Pinili, 26; and his brother Arwin, 27.

Yogi Filemon Ruiz, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7), said the operation yielded six grams of shabu worth P17,700 and drug paraphernalia.

He said the operation stemmed from the information his office received from the barangay about Jeffrey’s alleged illegal drug activities.

This prompted PDEA-7 agents to verify the report and proceed to the area where they confirmed that Jeffrey was indeed engaged in illegal drug activity and was then catering to the other two suspects who are allegedly his customers.

The operatives then carried out their plan to conduct a buy-bust operation with a PDEA-7 agent acting as a poseur-buyer.

During the transaction, the decoy handed money to Jeffrey in exchange for shabu. The agent signaled to his colleagues that the transaction has been completed.

Ruiz said the suspects did not resist arrest. No firearms were recovered from the suspects.

All suspects are now under PDEA-7 custody pending the filing of criminal complaints against them for violations of the Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), particularly on selling dangerous drugs.

Selling of dangerous drugs is a non-bailable offense, which means that a suspect cannot post bond for his temporary freedom.

Jeffrey will also be facing a complaint for maintenance of a drug den. (FREEMAN)