DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 8 – Anti-narcotics operatives have arrested a fire officer and another suspected drug personality during a drug buy-bust operation Monday night in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
A police report identified the suspects as Francisco Javier Garzon, 42 years old, single and resident of Barangay Looc, Bais City; and Fire Officer 1 Antonieta Abrasaldo Catacutan, 52 years old, married, and currently assigned at the Bais City Fire Station.
A third suspect who eluded arrest was identified as Jade Torres Villafuerte, 33 years old, married, also a resident of Barangay Looc, Bais City.
The suspects were arrested around 9:15 p.m. Monday in Barangay Looc by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) here, the Provincial Intelligence Bureau of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, and the Bais City Police Station.
Confiscated during the operation were four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia.
Garzon has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of Sec. 5 of Republic Act 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act as amended, issued by Judge Candelario Gonzalez of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 45 in Bais City.
Meanwhile, police in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental also arrested drug suspect Jose Roy Reyes, 47, married, and a resident of Pacifico Street in Barangay 2, Tanjay City, during a buy-bust operation around Monday morning in Barangay San Isidro of that city.
Confiscated were two pieces of transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu granules, a Php 1,000 marked bill used in the buy-bust operation, Php 3,500 cash believed to be proceeds from “shabu sales”, a motorcycle and mobile phone.
The suspects are now behind bars for the filing of criminal charges. Judy Flores Partlow/PNA-northboundasia.com