Mine executive arrested for cocaine moved to city jail

CEBU, Philippines – The mining executive who was arrested for pushing drugs last Tuesday was moved to the Cebu City Jail from the detention cell of the Police Regional Office 7 upon order of the court.

RTC Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes signed the commitment order against Russel Rosales yesterday.

Rosales, 38, a resident of Kingswood Village in Minglanilla town, was indicted for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Prosecutors elevated criminal charges against him in court also yesterday.

No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Rosales was arrested through a buy bust operation conducted by operatives of the anti-illegal drugs special operations task force from Manila and Central Visayas. He was arrested at the parking lot of a hotel in Barangay Zapatera Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities seized from Rosales a brick of cocaine estimated at P2 million to P3 million. Police believe that the brick is part of the two tons of cocaine shipment thrown off from a Hongkong-bound Chinese vessel and was washed towards the shores of Samar province in December.

As of yesterday, police would not disclose the exact mining company Rosales is connected with. He was identified as a mining official based on documents recovered from his possession.

Rosales lawyer, Danilo Yap, said earlier his client has opted to answer the charges during trial. (FREEMAN)