By Jennifer P. Rendon
A job hire working for the Lambunao local government was arrested in a police anti-drug operation on the afternoon of April 20.
The suspect, alias Joseph, 53, of Barangay Daan Banwa, Lambunao, was apprehended during a buy-bust operation along a roadside in Barangay Gines at around 5:35 p.m. on Easter Sunday.
Members of the Lambunao Municipal Police Station arrested Joseph after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer.
During a body search, authorities recovered three more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items from his possession.
Major Roy Tayona, Lambunao police chief, said the seized illegal drugs weighed approximately 55 grams and had a standard drug price of PHP374,000.
Joseph, who was employed at the town’s slaughterhouse, was arrested after a three-week surveillance operation.
Police placed him under monitoring after one of his alleged downlines was previously arrested.
The suspect was allegedly distributing illegal drugs in Lambunao and in the nearby towns of Calinog and Janiuay.
Tayona said Joseph had no prior drug-related arrests.
However, he was granted parole three years ago for a frustrated murder case.
Joseph is now detained and will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
