A MAN in his 50s was arrested by local authorities in Bacolor, Pampanga for possession of illegal drugs in a chance inspection in Barangay Calibutbut recently.

Chief Inspector Jan Carl Gopez, the town chief of police, identified the suspect as Nestor Nicdao, 53, a resident of Barangay Telabastagan in the City of San Fernando.

According to Gopez, Nicdao was initially apprehended by the local police for allegedly smoking in a public place, particularly in front of the local police station which is a violation of the Executive Order No. 26 (EO 26) entitled “Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places.”

However, Nicdao was allegedly uncooperative during the apprehension and insisted that he was not doing anything wrong which prompted the policemen to search him for possible firearms or illegal products in his possession.

Gopez said the search yielded a sachet of suspected dried marijuana leaves and a sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in the pockets of Nicdao. Hre was immediately arrested.

Nicdao is currently detained at the town’s police detention facility as he faces charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs, and a fine under the EO 26 or the nationwide smoking ban.