'Notorious pusher' faces raps for firearms, drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Charges for illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs were filed against a notorious drug pusher in Barangay Canhabagat, Medellin on Tuesday after he was arrested last Saturday by the Regional Police Intelligence Unit of the Regional Intelligence Division-7.

The cases were filed before the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City against William Mercader who was able to post P280,000 bail for both cases yesterday.

Mercader was arrested in a raid conducted by the RPIU in his residence through a search warrant signed by Regional Trial Court Branch 57 Presiding Judge Enriqueta Loquillano-Belarmino.The search inside his house yielded 70 small packets of shabu worth P17,500; a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver; six pieces of .45 caliber ammunitions; six .357 ammunitions and P500 believed to be proceeds of his illegal drug trade.

Senior Police Officer 2 Jesus Rojas, team leader of the RPIU, told The FREEMAN that Mercader was identified as a level one pusher in the barangay and supplied to other pushers from neighboring barangays.

He said Mercader could dispose shabu amounting P150,000 in a week. Rojas said they applied for a search warrant for RA 8294 or Illegal Possession of Firearms after they caught him having an unlicensed gun during their surveillance.

“Sige man ni’g pabuto unya tungod sa kadaghan ug complaint maong among gi-surveillance,” Rojas claimed.

Police will be checking for other pending cases against Mercader at the RTC in Cebu City as well as in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7.Rojas said they are now eyeing another barangay in the same town which will be the subject of their next operation. — (FREEMAN)