Student yields marijuana leaves in Pateros

By

A 22-year-old student was arrested by police after he allegedly yielded suspected dried marijuana leaves during a buy-bust operation in Pateros City on Friday.

The police identified the suspect as Sherwin Babasa, an alternative learning system (ALS) student, and a resident of Barangay Aguho, Pateros City.

Colonel Joey Goforth, Pateros police chief, said school authorities were alarmed upon discovering that there was an illicit drug use among their students. It was later learned that Babasa was allegedly the source of marijuana in their campus.

A minor who was nabbed in a previous police operation also pointed Babasa as his source of illegal drugs, Goforth added.

According to Police Staff Sergeant Willex Daganta, case investigator, elements of the Pateros police’s station drug enforcement unit (SDEU) apprehended Babasa during a buy-bust sting along E. Quiogue Street, Barangay Aguho at around 8:10 p.m.

Police seized one sachet of suspected dried marijuana leaves and buy-bust money from the student’s possession.

Police added that Babasa persisted in his illegal drug activities despite undergoing a community-based rehabilitation program.

Police said the student claimed that he was just a drug runner and not a drug pusher.

Babasa said that he obtains marijuana from someone who is a resident of another barangay. However, he refused to name his alleged drug supplier.

Babasa was included in the barangay watch list, according to police.

He is now under police custody and will be facing charges with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.