Six persons arrested for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Six people including an Australian national were arrested in Argao and Corodova over the weekend for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Australian national Garry Frank Brough, 68, of Barangay Langtad, Argao went to the town’s police station at 8:45 p.m. Saturday to visit siblings Mary Ann and Lovely Comaling who were detained for theft but ended up being arrested for possession of dried marijuana leaves.

Police Officer 1 Renato Nacaytuna said he admonished Brough for insisting to visit the Comaling sisters even if it was already beyond the visiting hours. Nacaytuna said he noticed a small plastic bag in the suspect’s right pocket prompting him to check.

Nacaytuna said he found out that the plastic bag contains a handful of dried marijuana leaves resulting to the suspect’s arrest. Brough reportedly admitted having bought the illegal drugs at P3,000 from a person he refused to identify.

Brough had befriended to the Comaling sisters when he was also detained last week following his arrest for slander and unjust vexation where he is out on bail.

“Pagka-priso niya diri niya naamiga ning managsuon nga iyang gibisita ron,” a police officer said.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Oyangoren, 25; Dickson Galeos, 29; Johnel Wasataya, 26; and Livingstone Panerio, 35 were arrested yesterday morning in Barangay Tulic after they were caught in the act of sniffing shabu.

A telephone call from a concerned citizen prompted the police to raid the house owned by Wasataya. The raiding team recovered several drug paraphernalia.

Galeos reportedly tried to grab the service firearm of Police Officer 1 Eugene Sarabillo in an attempt to elude arrest. However, he was subdued by the police officer and eventually placed under arrest.

The suspects are now detained at the Argao police stockade while charges for violations of Sections 15 and 12, Article II of the RA 9165 are being prepared.

In Cordova, 34-year-old Abner Tahanlangit was arrested yesterday morning after he was spotted selling shabu in Barangay Day-as.

The policemen were allegedly on a routine patrol when they spotted the suspect having a suspicious transaction. According to the police, the suspect tried to run when they approached him prompting them to be suspicious.

The police recovered 12 small packs of shabu worth P5,000 and P810 cash from Tahanlangit. The suspect is now detained in Cordova Police Station. —(FREEMAN)