‘Manuel Roxas’ nabbed in Capiz drug bust

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Manuel Roxas, a namesake of the former president or the former senator or the ex-Cabinet secretary, was arrested following an anti-narcotics operations late evening of March 27 at Roxas City in Capiz.

The 41-year-old suspect, who has Bobilla as his middle name, is a resident of Hermano Street at Barangay Punta Tabuc in Roxas City.

Members of the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Drug Enforcement Unit, led by Chief Inspector Rowell Bucat, arrested Roxas after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer around 10:45 p.m. along Inocencio Street at Barangay Tiza.

When frisked later, Roxas yielded eight more sachets of shabu (with an estimated street value of P24,000), a pouch, a Samsung mobile phone, and the P1,000 buy-bust marked money.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, Capiz Police chief, said that while Bucat’s team was making the arrest, the suspect’s lookouts on board an Innova suddenly fired at the police.

Roxas’ companions were on board a red Toyota Innova. The poseur buyer’s look-out, who was just seeking cover nearby, fired back forcing the men in the Innova to retreat and sped off.

Nacion explained they were unable to put personnel in the area, as the suspects did a reconnaissance prior to the buy-bust operation. Based on information, Roxas had three companions during the incident. One of them was allegedly hit on the arm during the exchange of gun fire.

Nacion said the suspect surrendered through Oplan Tokhang last year. He was not monitored to have engaged in the illegal drug trade until February following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for the PNP to stop its anti-illegal drugs operations.

“It was that time that we have monitored Roxas and two other known drug pushers in Roxas City to have formed a group. They are recruiting members, or street peddlers, to do the leg work for them,” Nacion added.

While the suspect is named Manuel Roxas, Nacion said they received no reports that he is in anyway related to Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. (FREEMAN)