Jail guard, inmate nabbed in Kalibo buy bust

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A provincial jail guard and a female inmate were nabbed in a drug buy-bust operation outside the Aklan jail facility in Kalibo, Aklan on November 5. Both suspects denied the police operation took place.

Police identified the suspect as 28-year old Clary Mel Melgarejo alias CM, resident of Barangay New Buswang in Kalibo and her accomplice Rona Espino, 41, resident of Concepcion, Iloilo.

Melgarejo works as a female jail guard  in the provincial government-run Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Barangay Nalook before the arrest.

The suspects allegedly sold two sachets of shabu for P2,000 at around 1 p.m. to a police poseur buyer while on their way back to ARC.

Operatives of Aklan Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Provincial Intelligence Branch, Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEA-6) and Kalibo municipal police station conducted the sting operation.

“Namonitor natin pati ng Kalibo police si Melgarejo sobrang isang buwan na. Itong si Melgarejo ang nagpapasok ng illegal drugs sa ARC. Palagi silang lumalabas kahit nakakulong si Espino dahil malakas itong si Espino kay Melgarejo,” said Chief Inspector Frensy Andrade, chief of Aklan PDEU.

Espino is detained at ARC for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 after she was arrested in a buy-bust operation in 2012 in Kalibo, Aklan. 

Espino said operatives suddenly came from behind them and blocked their way in Sitio Ilawod, Nalook while they were driving a motorcycle.

“Nag-abiso ako kay warden na kukuha ng pera sa isang pari sa Kalibo para sa plea bargaining dahil lalabas na ako sa Biyernes. Planted ang shabu, siniksik nila ang druga sa likod na bulsa ni CM, tapos dinakip nila kami. Walang buy bust operation na nangyari dito,” she added.

Both suspects were temporarily detained at Kalibo police station lock-up cell pending filing of charges against them.

A case for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165 will be filed against the suspects.

“Ang tatay ni Melgarejo ay nakakulong din sa ARC dahil sa illegal drugs. Posible pinapasa ni Melgarejo sa tatay niya ang mga druga sa loob ng ARC,” Andrade added.