Claims evidence against her was ‘Planted’ Female ‘drug pusher’ nabbed

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) 7 arrested a female alleged drug peddler in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City last Friday night.

Suspect Rizalinda Cadungog, 39, was seized with 47 sachets of suspected shabu that led to her arrest at 6 pm.

Senior Insp. Henrix Bancoleta of RAIDSOTG 7 said they received information about the rampant drug peddling in Cadungog’s area in sitio Sea Breeze, prompting them to conduct surveillance.

Police then confirmed Cadungog’s alleged illegal drug trade and as a result, they arranged a supposed transaction with the suspect.

The RAIDSOTG operatives pretended to buy P200 worth of shabu from Cadungog but as soon as the suspect handed over the drugs, she was arrested.

Bancoleta said they further recovered 46 packs of the same powdery substance from Cadungog’s possession. The drug’s street value amounted to nearly P10,000.

Police described Cadungog as a level three drug pusher who can dispose of, at most, 200 grams of shabu in a week. The suspect also allegedly took over the illegal drug peddling activity of a relative who was imprisoned in 2011.

The suspect, in an interview at her detention cell, denied the accusation of the police, saying the evidence was planted.

“Nag-higda ko sa balay human simba unya nakadungog ko’g lagubo, ang amo na man diay pultahan gipatiran nila. Unya gilabayan ko nila atong shabu ug kwarta, (I was just lying in bed at home when I heard a thud. I later learned that they kicked our door then they threw the shabu and money at me.)” she said. She was then arrested before her grandchildren.

The suspect believed that her neighbor, a certain Jao, who was the one actually involved allegedly in drug peddling, made true to his threat on her.

“Nisulti man ko sauna na ako na g’yud na siya isumbong unya iya kong gibaharan, (I told him before that I will report him to the authorities and he threatened me.)” she said. She is jobless while her husband, who was not around during the operation, works as a driver-mechanic.

She further alleged that during her arrest, she told police about her neighbor and that they arrest him instead, but the police officers just ignored her.

Charges for illegal drug selling and possession will be filed against Cadungog tomorrow. MIT (FREEMAN)