A local government employee was arrested by anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during an entrapment operation in Sarangani Province on August 10, 2015.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. identified the suspect as Russel Maniquez, 37 years old, a resident of Maguling, Maitum, Sarangani Province. Maniquez is an administrative aide assigned at the Municipal Hall of Maitum, Sarangani Province.
At around 1:00 p.m., elements of PDEA Regional Office 12 (PDEA RO12) under the direct supervision of Director Lyndon Aspacio conducted a buy-bust operation in Purok Namnama, Barangay Malalag, Maitum, Sarangani Province which led to the arrest of Maniquez.
A PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer bought a transparent plastic sachet of white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, weighing more or less one gram worth P7, 500 from the suspect.
Maniquez is temporarily detained at PDEA RO12 jail facility and will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the same operating unit arrested Christopher Paghobasan, alias Cocoy, 26, a manicurist, after he sold a sachet of shabu with an estimated street value of P2,000 to a poseur-buyer in Purok Gumamela, Tabuk Tual, Barangay Poblacion, Kiamba, Sarangani Province, at around 9:30 in the morning.
Paghobasan’s cohort, a certain Adobo Rebuca was able to elude arrest after sensing the presence of PDEA operatives.
Cases for violation of Section 5 in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy to Sell), Article II of RA 9165, will be filed in court against Paghobasan and Rebuca, who remains at large.
Posted By: Lynne Pingoy
God bless Maitum! Praise God that these violations are found out and acted upon.