Mandaluyong mayoral bet tests positive for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A chemist from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) testified yesterday that she found traces of illegal drugs in the urine samples of Mandaluyong City mayoral candidate Ernest Domingo Buan.

Testifying before Judge Abraham Borreta of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 154, Jappeth Santiago, 26, said she found shabu and ecstasy in the urine samples Buan gave moments after he was arrested during a drug bust in Pasig City last month.

Santiago admitted that he erred when he wrote in his report that the “white substance” seized from Buan was shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and not cocaine.

“I was exhausted at that time and I failed to correct the format from an earlier case, which I used in writing the report. But the actual findings were cocaine and not shabu,” Santiago said.

PDEA agents seized five plastic sachets of cocaine from Buan. The prosecution is presenting witnesses to show they have a strong case against Buan, who has filed a motion to post bail before the court.      – Non Alquitran