City worker falls in drug operation

CEBU, Philippines - Police swooped down on a 53-year-old job order employee of the Lapu-Lapu City government during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Canjulao Wednesday evening.

Wilyfredo Castillas, who is assigned at the city’s Clean and Green Office, yielded 11 small packs and a large pack of suspected shabu.

Senior Police Inspector Verniño Noserale, chief of City Intelligence Branch and City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operatives Task Group, said a police decoy and the suspect agreed to meet in the area to consummate the illegal transaction.

When the sale was done, police then initiated the Castillas’ arrest.

Aside from illegal drugs, police also recovered a plastic container, cellular phone, the P200 marked money, including alleged proceeds amounting to P300.

Noserale said Castillas was sent to the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital for physical and medical examination but was eventually detained in Lapu-Lapu City Detention Cell.

The suspect will face charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Mayor Paz Radaza earlier said any job order worker caught under the influence of illegal drugs or trading the same will be immediately terminated.

Meanwhile, two alleged drug pushers were arrested with 20 packs of suspected shabu on Tuesday night in Sitio Pakpakan, Barangay Basak, still in Lapu-Lapu City.

Roberto Ochea, 48, a resident of the said place, was the subject of the buy-bust operation conducted around 11 p.m.

Ochea was arrested after handing a small sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer.

Reynaldo Mateo, 19, also a resident of Barangay Basak, was arrested by police after allegedly conniving with Ochea in the transaction.

From Ochea's possession, police confiscated P500 worth of proceeds of their illegal trade as well as drug paraphernalia and the marked money of P200.

Both suspects were sent to Lapu-Lapu City Detention Cell and are facing a case under RA 9165. (FREEMAN)