CEBU, Philippines - A blessing in disguise. This was how Asturias Police Station chief Senior Inspector Narciso Abapo described the arrest of a wanted drug pusher who tried to avoid a police and military checkpoint but hit a two-year-old girl instead in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Asturias, yesterday afternoon.
Alger “Moklo” Peñalosa, 21, of Barangay Colonia, Tuburan town, tried to avoid a checkpoint by going back the way he came from but hit the girl and fell from his motorcycle.
The policemen who saw the accident went to help the girl but became suspicious when they saw Peñalosa appeared to have a weapon. Abapo asked the suspect to raise his shirt and they saw a homemade .357 cal. revolver tucked into his pants.
Abapo and his men took Peñalosa and the child to the Asturias Infirmary for immediate medical treatment. All the while Peñalosa was under treatment police noticed he would not let go of his backpack.
After first aid treatment the police brought him to the police station and asked him who he was but they had difficulty of determining the truth after he gave two names.
But Virgilio Jesus Quiachon, who was arrested earlier that day (story on Page 8) said the suspect was the one called “Moklo” so they called the Tuburan Police Station to verify his identity and were able to determine his real name.
“Amo siyang gi-interrogate di gyud motingog gani hangtod nga natambalan siya. Lahi ang pangalan iyang gigamit taga Tuburan siya, diha na mi nagduda nga naay nisulti nga Moklo iyang ngalan,” Abapo said.
He added that Tuburan Police Station confirmed that Peñalosa is the same “Moklo” who has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Abapo said when they searched his backpack they found two medium packs and 40 small packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia. The confiscated drugs weighed 12.4 grams, and was valued at P146,320 said Abapo.
Abapo said that the suspect is no small fry as he operates in the whole Cebu Third District. He said that Peñalosa was on his way to Looc Norte, Asturias, to deliver shabu to his contact based on the conversations they retrieved from his mobile phone.
He added that they also received reports the suspect fires his revolver indiscriminately in Asturias but they had no idea what he looks like.
“Blessing in disguise, dugay na gyud ni namo gipangita namo kay sigi og pabuto pero wala g’yud mi kaila ani niya,” he added.
Meanwhile, the girl escaped serious injuries. (FREEMAN)