Pusher falls, P30,000 shabu seized

POLICEMEN have arrested a drug pusher and seized P30,000 worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation while two others facing drug charges were committed to the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC).

The police said the buy-bust operation was carried out around 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Sitio Pasay, Barangay San Roque, six kilometers west of the city.

Arrested was Mark Gil Nanquil, a resident of Sitio Caburihan, Barangay Canelar, the police said.

Committed to the Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP)-administered ZCRC were Dennis Viajedor, 33, and Michael Cañete, 36.

The police said that Nanquil was arrested after he handed over a small-size heat-sealed plastic sachet of suspected shabu in exchange for P200 to a policeman who pretended to be a buyer.

The policemen also recovered from Nanquil's possession two small-size heat-sealed and a large pack of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P30,000, a pink pouch, and P200 marked money used in the buy-bust operation.

The suspect was detained while appropriate charges are set to be filed against him, said the police.

Viajedor and Cañete were committed to the ZCRC after the 15-day waiver they signed expired on Wednesday and warrants for their arrest were already issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Eric Elumba.

They were charged for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic At 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the police said.

They were arrested in an anti-drug campaign in the evening of August 21 in the village of Sta. Catalina.

Seized from their possession were three small-sized heat-sealed sachets of shabu and paraphernalia in the used of prohibited drugs and a gas-generated rifle known as "Boga," the police added.

A case for illegal possession of firearm filed against Viajedor and Cañete is still pending at the prosecutor's office for evaluation.