Cop, drug pusher fall in PDEA operation

A member of the Cebu City Police Office was arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for allegedly escorting a bigtime drug pusher during a buy-bust operation Sunday afternoon along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

PO2 Manolito Anore of the Security Service Group was arrested along with suspected drug pusher Marlon Sabayton of Pitalo, San Fernando town during the PDEA operation at the South Bus Terminal.

His other companion, PO1 Joseph Dagatan, of the Mobile Patrol Group, however, eluded arrest.

Anore, a former reporter of a local radio station, was reported to have engaged in a shootout with four armed men last Saturday in barangay Pitalo.

Reports said Anore was in a friend''s house in sitio Lakaron when a man approached and informed him of the presence of armed men in the area. He consumed two magazines of his .45 caliber pistol before the San Fernando police came to his aid.

Anore''s arrest came after the PDEA operatives, disguising as illegal drug buyers, contacted Sabayton to buy shabu. Sabayton reportedly agreed to meet them at Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

But according to him, he did not know that Sabayton was a drug pusher. He said a friend only introduced Sabayton to him last Saturday, a day after the fiesta celebration in barangay Pitalo.

Anore said last Sunday, he was about to return to Cebu City to report for work yesterday, adding that he was assigned to drive one of the police cars intended for the city''s mountain barangays.

Anore said while he was waiting for a ride, a friend who is also a brother-in-law of Sabayton told him just to hitch a ride on Sabayton''s jeep since Sabayton was also going to Cebu City.

Upon reaching Carcar town, Anore reportedly met Dagatan who also hitched for a ride.

During the transaction after their arrival in the city, the PDEA operatives reportedly handed Sabayton a bundle of marked P500 bills in exchange for the three medium packs of shabu.

But when the PDEA personnel immediately arrested Sabayton and Anore, Dagatan quickly fled.

But Anore said no buy-bust operation happened, saying that when they arrived at Natalio Bacalso Avenue, the PDEA operatives immediately pointed their firearms at them.

PO2 Victor Rommel Ayuman said a small pack of shabu was seized from Anore''s wallet, claiming that the policeman was still high on drugs when he was arrested.

The seized packs of shabu, which weighed at least 167 grams, were pegged at P32,000. A violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against Sabayton, Anore and Dagatan.

Sabayton, who has been on the watch-list of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, was earlier arrested by the San Fernado town police for illegal drugs, but was able to post bail when a case was filed against him.

Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Branch chief George Ylanan said Dagatan''s immediate superior, MPG chief Arnel Banzon, has already recommended for his relief.

CCPO deputy director for operations Paul Labra ordered for the confiscation of Dagatan''s badge and firearm, but Ylanan said their records showed that Dagatan''s service firearm was not issued to him.

Dagatan, who was put under camp restriction, was made to undergo a drug test yesterday morning.

Once a case will be filed against Dagatan in court, the CIIB will conduct a pre-charge investigation into his administrative case. - Flor Z. Perolina/LPM