Gov’t worker, three others fall for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-7 arrested a government employee and three others during an illegal drug operation on Friday.

NBI-7 agent Renan Oliva said Ricardo Cantillas, a resident of Tanke-1, Naga City; Zosimo Abaquita of Sitio Mohon, Langtad, Naga City; Ariel Sarusal of Sitio Mohon; and Arnnette Sarusal of Nangkaan, Sangat, San Fernando were arrested in a buy-bust operation.

Cantillas is reportedly a field inspector of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) in Naga City.

 â€œThat at around 5:00 p.m. of January 17, 2014, NBI Operatives conducted a buy bust operation at the residence of Abaquita. That seized and confiscated from Abquita was a medium-sized heat sealed plastic containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu,” the NBI affidavit reads.

The NBI operatives conducted surveillance on Abaquita for three weeks before the operation.

Aside from the plastic sachet confiscated from the possession of Abaquita, agent Reynaldo Villordon Jr. also recovered the buy-bust money worth P500.

The NBI also seized 20 pieces of glass tooters, eight pieces of medium-size plastic believed to be containing shabu, 10 pieces of disposable lighters, one bundle of unused tin foils, broken tooters and two improvised burners in the house of Abaquita.

According to the NBI, Cantillas is believed to be the supplier of the illegal drugs to Abaquita.

“An incidental search on his (Cantillas) vehicle yielded plastic sachets containing traces of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, unused plastics for packing of shabu, needle used for breaking shabu, improvised tooter, small notebook containing lists of credits and payments involving drug transaction,” the NBI affidavit reads.

The NBI also seized from the possession of Cantillas one unlicensed 9mm pistol, one 9mm magazine, eight live ammunitions and an expired firearms identification cards.

Cantillas reportedly resisted arrest and tried to pull out his firearm but was subdued by the operatives.

Arnette and Ariel were caught in the act of sniffing shabu at the residence of Abaquita, according to the NBI.

Abaquita admitted selling shabu because he can’t think of any.

He used to be a supervisor of pump boys at a gasoline station but went AWOL (absent without official leave) after he decided to go after his wife in Manila.

Cantillas admitted using shabu but denied delivering or selling the illegal drug. He said he dropped by the residence of Abaquita because there were “chicks.”

Arnette and Ariel denied using shabu.

Abaquita was charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act before the Naga City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Cantillas was charged with violation of RA 9165 and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Arnette and Ariel were charged for visiting a drug den. (FREEMAN)