Alleged cocaine dealer charged

CEBU, Philippines - Criminal charges were filed in court against a suspected cocaine dealer who was recently arrested in an entrapment operation by the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Eugenio Opura Lastimosa, a resident of V. Rama, Cebu City, was indicted of two non-bailable cases for violations of Section 5 and 11 of Article II of the Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Lastimosa was caught during a buy-bust operation along V. Rama on the midnight of March 7. PDEA operatives acted on a tip that the accused is looking for buyers and brokers to sell cocaine in exchange for commission.

Intelligence Officers Kristian Ione Sesante and Brian Paul Villegas said that they immediately verified the information and found it to be true. Their informant arranged a supposed transaction with one of the PDEA agents acting as poseur-buyer.

Sesante said he went undercover to buy P5,000 worth of cocaine. During their meeting, the accused handed him a medium-size of transparent plastic pack containing powdered substance.

As soon as the transaction was done, Sesante immediately signaled the rest of the operatives who were positioned in the area and placed the accused under arrest.

Subsequent to the arrest, six more packs of cocaine were recovered from the bag of Lastimosa. Thus, aside from drug peddling, another case for drug possession was filed against him. — Fred P. Languido/LPM(FREEMAN NEWS)