2 City Hall employees nabbed in drug busts
Two City Hall employees were nabbed in separate illegal drugs buy-bust operations on Saturday, April 6.
At about 5pm last Saturday, elements from Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) and Police Station 1 arrested Nelson Remotigue, 37, at Burgos-Del Pilar Streets, barangay 17.
A resident of Biasong, barangay Macasandig, Remotigue is an active member of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA). Remotigue was caught in the act of using alleged methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.
Recovered from his possession were a piece of unsealed sachet of suspected shabu, three pieces of aluminum foil strips used as improvised gutter, improvised tooter, and improvised needle, and disposable lighters.
On the same day, police also arrested Jeofrey Sierra, 40, a resident of JR Borja Street, barangay 7, this city. Sierra is a current Metro Aide 1 of the City Public Services Office (CPSO).
Bought from the suspect was four sachet of shabu. Recovered from his possession were the buy-bust money worth P2,000, and a cellphone.
Both suspects are detained at Maharlika headquarters, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, barangay Carmen.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Romeo Calizo, chairman of the committee on police, fire, and public safety commended the police for the arrest of the two city hall employees, saying this was a result of the city’s intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The city has been subjecting its 6,119 employees to random drug tests since last year and the City Government has allocated around P1.2 million for the mandatory and an unannounced drug testing.
Calizo said some 10 city hall employees have tested positive for illegal drugs use, while 2 have been terminated for their illegal activity.
“We can confirm that these persons arrested have yet to undergo our drug testing,” he said.
“We will continue to warn city hall employees to stop illegal drugs. The city government is committed to stop illegal drugs activities with our programs such as random drug testing, community-based rehabilitation, and many more,” Calizo added.