Lawyer nabbed in drug bust

POLICE yesterday arrested a lawyer during a drug-bust operation inside an apartelle in Barangay 20-B in Davao City.

Sta. Ana police, led by its station commander Chief Insp. Hamlet Lerios, conducted a buy-bust operation at around 2 a.m. along Lacson Street in Bo. Obrero that resulted to the arrest of Lorenzo Ballesteros Ta-asan, 48, an associate lawyer of a local firm here, after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a police officer who acted as a buyer.

“May poseur buyer tayo na nasa loob na ng apartelle at doon natin nahuli itong suspect na nakilalang isang abogado,” Lerios told Sun.Star Davao at the Sta. Ana police station yesterday.

Seized from the possession of the suspect were sachets of suspected shabu.

Lerios said the suspected shabu weighs around 4.08 grams and has an estimated street value of P14,000.

Other evidence seized were one disposable lighter with an improvised foil needle, rolled aluminum foil, black bag pack, and P500 marked money.

The suspect is currently detained at the Sta. Ana Police Station and is facing charges for violation of the Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous

Drugs Act of 2002.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) governor for Eastern Mindanao said while they do not support any criminal involvement of any lawyers, they still want due to process to be observed. IBP Governor for Eastern Mindanao Cesar Europa bared this after Ta-asan was arrested in a drug operation.

“While I must state the Integrated Bar of the Philippines will never condone any criminal activity on the part of any of its members, every person is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the right to due process and this, of course, includes lawyers,” Europa said. ICT/KVC