Public school teacher nabbed in buy bust

Tired of the delays in the release of his salary, a 36-year-old public school teacher resorted to selling illegal drugs.

Neler Tagpuno, 36, a teacher of the San Nicolas Elementary School in Cebu City, was arrested by police after he was caught selling drugs inside a subdivision in Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla on Friday, Feb. 22.

Tagpuno was arrested inside his house in Villa Selina Subdivision by anti-drug enforcement operatives of the Minglanilla Police Station during its synchronized “One Time, Big Time” operations. Recovered from Tagpuno were two small packs of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P15,096.

Chief Insp. Verniño Noserale, Minglanilla town police chief, said they received tips on Tagpuno’s operations in the area.

After two months of surveillance, Noserale and his team operated against Tagpuno.

Noserale said Tagpuno, who holds a rank of master teacher, was considered a new player in the illegal drug trade in the town.

Tagpuno claimed he established several contacts in the illegal drug trade while serving as a public school teacher in Barangay San Nicolas.

“Nakaestablish na siya ug maayo. Lain-lain nana iyang sources sa shabu. Sauna adto siya mupalit ug shabu sa Guadalupe, dayun sa Pasil ug sa A. Lopez Street (Barangay Calamba),” Noserale said.

Noserale said Tagpuno told investigators that he entered the illegal drug trade because his salary is always delayed. He earns P41,000 a month.

Tagpuno reportedly police he started out as a user when he was still in high school and began selling drugs while working as a Grade 5 teacher in Cebu City.

Noserale said Tagpuno’s wife, an overseas Filipino worker based in Dubai, and his daughter do not know about his illegal drug activities.

The police chief said Tagpuno recently passed an accreditation exam for aspiring school principals.

Tagpuno will facing charges for illegal possession and selling of drugs.

Meanwhile, a 56-year-old drug personality was killed by police operatives in a buy-bust in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Daniel “Danny” Dumandan Mañacap, 56, a maintenance worker of a cockpit in Sitio Kimba, was killed after he allegedly attempted to shoot at operatives of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 7.

Insp. Jan Ace Elcid Layug led anti-drug enforcement operatives of the Talisay City Police Station in the operation.

Based on a report provided by RMFB 7, Mañacap allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the operatives when he noticed he was transacting with policemen.

The police officers fired back, resulting in the Mañacap’s death.

Recovered from Mañacap were 55 small packs of shabu worth P15,232 and the firearm he used to shoot the police. /