Construction worker arrested in police buy-bust

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A construction worker was nabbed in a police drug-bust operation in Numancia, Aklan on September 25. 

PHOTO RODNEL AGUIRRE

James Macali Cipriano, 24, resident of Calachuchi Road in Barangay Andagao, Kalibo, sold two suspected sachets of shabu amounting to P4,000 to a police poseur buyer.

The suspect, however, denied he engaged in illegal drug activities. 

“Nag-iinuman kami sa bahay ng tiyuhin ko. Lumabas ako para bumili ng pulutan, ngunit hinarang, pinadapa at inaresto ako ng mga kapulisan,” Cipriano said. 

“Hindi ko pera ang nakuha sa akin. Hindi ako drug surrenderee at wala akong record. Dati gumagamit ako ng druga sa Maynila matagal na.”

Chief Inspector Frensy Andrade, chief of Aklan Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), said operatives apprehended the suspect along the barangay road of Dongon East in Numancia, Aklan at around 5:20 p.m. 

“May nakuha kaming impormasyon three months ago na may taga-Calachuchi na nagtitinda ng druga. Na-monitored natin siya at nakipagtransact kami. Na-buybust namin siya kanina,” he added.

Operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6) and Numancia municipal police station also joined the operation.

“May naikasang buy-bust dati sa Maynila, involved ang suspek, kaso nakatakbo siya at umuwi sa Aklan para magpalamig,” Andrade said. 

Police also recovered mobile phone and the marked money during the body search.

“Kinukuha niya sa Maynila ang druga at ibinibenta sa Aklan. Matagal siya sa Numancia kanina, siguro may ka-transactions siya bago nag okay siya na magbenta din sa  amin,” Andrade stressed.

Cipriano will be charged for violating Section 5 for selling of illegal drugs of Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.