Man nabbed for drugs at checkpoint facing several other cases in court

The man who was arrested Sunday morning for possessing illegal drugs and a deadly weapon during a checkpoint in barangay Day-as by the Criminal Investigation and Investigation Bureau turned out to have 17 cases filed against him in court.

Police yesterday found out that Richard Rafols, a resident of sitio Riverside in barangay Lorega, had served prison terms at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center after he was convicted in eight of his 17 cases.

Vice Control Section chief George Ylanan yesterday said they found out that Rafols had been convicted for robbery, illegal possession of firearm, theft, concealing of deadly weapons, marijuana possession, illegal possession of drugs and highway robbery.

When interviewed yesterday, Rafols admitted that he was convicted in eight of his 17 cases and served prison terms at the BBRC from January 2000 to September last year.

Since he remained jobless after his release from jail, Rafols said he became a runner for illegal drugs, receiving P20 for each pack of shabu he bought. He also admitted that he has been using illegal drugs, but has stopped engaging in robberies after his release from jail.

Rafols was arrested around 10 a.m. last Sunday while on board a passenger jeepney during a checkpoint along New Imus Road. When police ordered the men to disembark, Rafols reportedly threw a black pouch at PO1 Larymar Laquinon then pushed the policeman away as he tried to escape.

But two other policemen gave chase and apprehended Rafols a few meters away. When being frisked by police later, Rafols yielded a fan knife, two small packs of shabu, a syringe and an ampule of nubain.

Charges for illegal possession of drugs and concealing of deadly weapon are being prepared against Rafols who, police learned, also has a pending case for frustrated murder for shooting a certain Olivar Ovaldi last December 24. - Flor Z. Perolina/LPM