Shabu peddler eludes arrest

CEBU, Philippines - Police who were armed with a search warrant against an alleged drug peddler in sitio Paihib, barangay Sambag II, this city, failed to arrest the suspect yesterday.

PO2 Ariel Dicdican of the Fuente Police Station identified the suspect as John Abella alias “Wintoy”.

Dicdican said that Abella eluded arrest after the suspect noticed of the authorities coming towards his house at past 8 a.m. yesterday. It was learned that Abella had installed a surveillance camera inside his residence.

Fuente Police and Special Weapons and Tactics operatives led by Chief Insp. Arnel Banzon were supposed to implement a search warrant issued by Judge Meinrado Paredes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 against Abella.

However, before they could capture the suspect, the latter escaped through the window of his house.

Police recovered five sachets and 71 packs of empty sachets of suspected shabu, a digital scale, a calculator, drug paraphernalia, and two television sets inside the house of the suspect.

Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu City Police Office, said that they are set to evaluate if the suspect, who is now at large, is a big-time drug peddler. – Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)