Businessman arrested for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman arrested for creating trouble at a barangay in Mandaluyong City spent the weekend in jail after he was found carrying a sachet of shabu.

Francis John Cristobal, 37, could not explain the presence of the sachet that fell from the garter of his briefs, said Senior Superintendent Joaquin Alva, Mandaluyong City police chief.

He is facing alarm and scandal and drug possession charges before the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office.

Police officers in Barangay Barangka Ibaba were on patrol when they noticed a commotion along Pantaleon street last April 13.

Teenagers were performing the traditional “Senakulo,” a play on the events leading up to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, when Cristobal started throwing hard objects at them.

When a teenager pleaded for him to stop, Cristobal pulled out a fan knife and ran after the teen, prompting the police officers to intervene and arrest him.

Cristobal was brought to the barangay hall and while being frisked, a sachet of shabu fell from his underwear.

The teenager Cristobal tried to stab filed a complaint with the women’s and children’s section of the Mandaluyong City police.

In Quezon City, four suspected drug dealers were arrested in separate operations since Thursday.

Jonell Dorono, 31, was arrested in a sting in Barangay Pinyahan at around 9 p.m. Friday. He allegedly sold a sachet of shabu for P300 to a policeman posing as a buyer.

The drugs and marked money were recovered from his possession.

On Thursday, alleged peddlers Rene Balisalis, 50; Frederick Rosal, 26, and Al Jalil Abangad, were arrested in another sting in Barangay San Bartolome.

The suspects allegedly sold P1,000 worth of shabu to an undercover police officer along Quirino Highway at around 9:15 p.m.

A sachet of shabu and marked money were seized from their possession.