Drug pusher, user nabbed in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - Law enforcers have arrested two men who reportedly sold illegal drugs to them in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion late Saturday night.

The suspects were identified as Benjie Maquilan, 37, the subject of the operation, and an alleged customer, Antonio Ansero, 35.

As per investigation, Consolacion police were tipped of the suspects’ illegal drug activity, which the police then verified and eventually arranged a buy-bust operation.

The operation, which was carried at past 10 pm,  was done in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7.

PO1 Ernie Barba acted as the poseur buyer and pretended to buy one pack or P200 worth of shabu from Maquilan.

When Barba received the drugs in exchange of the P200, he did the pre-arranged signal for the back-up team and tried to arrest the suspect.

However, Maquilan was able to run to his house.

Barba immediately followed the suspect and eventually arrested him inside including Ansero, who was inside the house and believed to be a customer of Maquilan.

Police recovered eight packs of suspected shabu, eight hand rolled tinfoil, several other drug paraphernalia and P600 cash believed to be proceeds of Maquilan’s drug peddling activities.

Ansero, a native of Cataingan, Masbate province, was also seized with three packs of shabu and tinfoil.

The suspects are now detained and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act while the seized items were subjected to forensic examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory 7.  (FREEMAN)