Lapu police nab two drug pushers

CEBU, Philippines - A man who had been involved in two murder cases was finally arrested by the police together with his colleague after the duo sold illegal drugs during a buy-bust operation conducted against them Wednesday evening in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

Oliver Badayos, 32, and Darry Baril, 20, both of Sitio Bagumbayan 1 of Barangay Maribago, were arrested  when they sold three small packs of shabu in exchange of a P500 marked money .

Authorities confiscated one small pack of heat-sealed crystalline substance believed to be shabu in the possession of Baril, while another two small packs were recovered from Badayos.

Also taken from them were illegal drug paraphernalia such as two lighters, four aluminum tin foils, and two units of mobile phones. A dark gray pouch and one blue motorcycle with plate number TM 3413 were also confiscated.

Spearheading the operation was Police Chief Inspector Conrado Manatad of Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 2.

According to the police, one resident of Bagumbayan gave the police chief a hint into the suspects' illegal activities.

Aside from illegal drugs, a .357 revolver with six live ammunitions was also seized from Badayos.

During interrogation, it was learned that Badayos was the one responsible for the killing of a certain Escel Remulta, 24, resident of Barangay Mactan, who was shot dead on the eve of March 30 while waiting for somebody along the road.

Badayos and an unidentified motorcycle driver stopped at Remulta and fired several shots to him causing his instantaneous death.

Badayos was identified by a witness. Police also believed that he was also responsible in another murder case in Sitio Dapdap in Barangay Maribago, also last month.

Cases of selling illegal drugs, illegal possession of firearms and murder were filed against Badayos before the city prosecutor's office yesterday while a case of selling illegal drugs was filed against Baril. — Flor Z. Perolina, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)