Cops arrest “level 3 drug pusher” with P60T drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A level three drug pusher was arrested during a drug raid where P60,000 worth of illegal drugs was seized inside his house in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Jonard Beldad, 29, was apprehended by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Gilbert Moises of Regional Trial Court Branch 18 for violation of Section 11, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165 also known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Chief Inspector Chuck Barandog, chief of San Nicolas Police Station, said that Beldad also has a pending warrant of arrest in April 2012 for illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

The police recovered five medium-sized and six small packs of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, a digital weighing scale, two mobile phones and ammunition of a .45 caliber.

Barandog said that they have placed Beldad under surveillance for almost a month and conducted a test buy twice prior the search operations.

“On and off ang iyahang duwa sa illegal drug activity. Based on our intelligence report, naa siya’y bag-ong amo coming from Manila,” he said.

He added that they had also verified the identity of Beldad with the barangay anti-drug abuse council and found out that the suspect was positive on the watch list.

Beldad said that he resorted to selling illegal drugs to sustain the needs of his family. He has an eight-year-old child with his live-in partner for ten years.

“Wa’y laing trabaho. Palit-palit ra og ginagmay. Bag-o pa man sad ko naninda,” he said.

During the drug raid, the police also arrested Beldad’s mother-in-law, Edna Suico, after P2,000 counterfeit bills and drug paraphernalia were confiscated from her. Beldad and his family are staying at the second floor of Suico’s house.

Suico, however, denied she owns the fake bills. She said that it was her partner who is responsible for possessing the counterfeit money. Her partner managed to escape before the police came to their house.

 She admitted to using illegal drugs as she was influenced by her partner. She said she knew about Beldad’s illegal activities and even reprimanded her son-in-law.

 Suico will be charged for violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 12, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165.  (FREEMAN)