ILOILO CITY — A total of 35 sachets of suspected “shabu” or methamphetamine hydrochloride were seized from a police officer assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Group of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) during a buy-bust operation Monday afternoon.
The illegal drugs were confiscated from Police Officer 2 Stephen Magno, 41 of Barangay San Juan Zone III in Molo district.
The buy-bust operation by joint elements of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (Western Visayas), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6, Iloilo City Police Station was around 3:35 p.m. at Barangay Calaparan in Arevalo district.
In an interview Tuesday, RDEU-6 head Senior Insp. Kenneth Bermejo said that the sachets of shabu have an estimated total street value of PHP70,000.
Magno was arrested after handing over two pieces of suspected shabu sealed in transparent plastic to the police poseur buyer.
His fellow policemen further recovered from his possession 33 sachets of suspected shabu and PHP2,000 buy-bust money and other illegal drug paraphernalia.
Bermejo said Magno is on their list not as illegal drug peddler but as a user.
“But we continuously monitored him. Prior to the buy-bust operation, we conducted series of test buys and we confirmed that he is also peddling,” he said.
During interrogation, Bermejo said that Magno sourced his illegal drugs from a certain “Balas”, also a resident of Barangay San Juan in Molo district.
Bermejo said that the arrested police officer is facing charges for violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“We are now preparing the necessary documents to file the cases against him,” he said.
He added that Magno might face dismissal from service and imprisonment.
He is detained at the Arevalo Police Station. (PNA)
