OPERATIVES of the Waterfront Police Station arrested four men, including two traffic enforcers, in a drug bust on McArthur Blvd. in Sitio Zapanta, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City at 11:55 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2019.
Police identified suspects Ervic Navarro, 38, and Francis Abe Mordeno, 40, as employees of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO). The target of the anti-narcotics operation, Reynaldo “Pawpaw” Ricarte, 29, was also caught along with Mark Alcos Miñosa, 39.
CCTO operation head Francisco Ouano said Navarro and Mordeno put the agency in a bad light.
“Bati ang ilang gipakita (They showed something that is deplorable),” he said.
Navarro and Mordeno have been working for CCTO as casual employees in the past 15 years, and they are well-compensated, according to Ouano.
After learning that the two personnel were involved in extortion activities and hooked on drugs, Ouano advised them to quit their vices and reform their lives. But his wise words fell on deaf ears.
Ouano said he will sign the termination papers of Navarro and Mordeno. Then he will submit them to the Office of the Mayor.
Waterfront Police Station Chief Joemar Pomarejos said they arrested Ricarte after an undercover operative succeeded in buying sachets of “shabu” from Ricarte.
Mordeno was arrested inside Ricarte’s house, after he was caught sniffing a substance believed to be shabu.
Police caught Navarro outside the house.
Seized from the suspects were five grams of “shabu” worth P34,000.
They will be charged for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Selling shabu is a non-bailable offense. (From AYB of Superbalita Cebu, Jennylyn Mabini, CNU Comm Intern, KAL)