“Old player” in drug trade nabbed with P118 thousand shabu

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — An “old player” in the illegal drug trade in Dumaguete City was arrested on Monday with at least 10 grams of shabu, worth an estimated P118,000, during a buy-bust operation at St. Joseph Village in Barangay Agan-an of Sibulan town, Negros Oriental.

Authorities identified the suspect as Russel Go who was also caught in possession of 11 sachets of shabu, and the P1,000 marked money with four bogus P1000 bills used in the buy-bust.

Agent Francisfil Tangeres of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Go was confirmed to have actively engaged in the illegal drug trade through a test-buy the PDEA conducted earlier, complete with documentary evidences such as photographs during a case build-up.

After the test buy, PDEA brought the shabu to the police Crime Lab for confirmation and to ensure it will have an air-tight case, said Tangeres, adding that Go has been an “old player” in the illegal trade, and had just been released from detention over a drug case.

The suspect, however, vehemently denied the accusations saying he even borrowed P1,000 today from his friend Kirk so he can buy viand for his 9-year-old daughter.

Go told The Freeman he is willing to undergo a drug test to prove that he is clean. He claimed that the PDEA operatives simply trapped and arrested him without enough reasons. Tangeres countered that it is the usual alibi of suspects when arrested.

Inventory of confiscated items were conducted inside the PDEA office and witnessed by the newly elected Agan-an Barangay Captain Jean Mercy Regalado and Councilman Pancho Armento, who is a retired policeman, and the media.