PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives arrested an “old player” in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the nearby town of Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Monday.
Suspect Russel Go was arrested by law enforcers, who also seized from him more or less 10 grams of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with an estimated value of P100,000 to P118,000 during a drug bust at St. Joseph village in Agan-an, Sibulan.
Go also yielded 11 other medium-sized transparent plastic sachets believed to contain shabu and P1,000 marked money along with four bogus P1,000 bills.
PDEA agent Francisfil Tangeres said that the suspect was confirmed to be actively engaged in the illegal drug trade through a test buy conducted by PDEA operatives, complete with documentary evidence, such as photographs during a case build up.
After the test buy, they brought the alleged shabu to the police crime laboratory for confirmation and to make sure they will have an airtight case.
He said Russel Go is an “old player” as far back as the time of Republic Act 6425 or “The Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972,” which has long since been repealed by another law on dangerous drugs. He was just recently released from detention in relation to an illegal drugs case.
The suspect vehemently denied the accusations, saying he even borrowed P1,000 on Monday from his friend so he could buy viand for his nine-year-old daughter.
Go told the Philippine News Agency that he is willing to undergo a drug test to prove that he is clean. He claimed the PDEA operatives simply trapped and arrested him without valid reasons.
Tangeres said it is the usual alibi of suspects when arrested.
An inventory of confiscated items from Go was conducted inside the PDEA office, witnessed by the village chief of Agan-an, Jean Mercy Regalado, and councilor Pancho Armento, who is a retired policeman, and members of the media. (PNA)