Enforcer nabbed for ‘drug possession’
A traffic enforcer of Mandaue City was arrested for allegedly carrying illegal drugs while one of the nonuniformed personnel of Argao Police Station tested positive in a drug test conducted last week.
The traffic enforcer is identified as Ian Billones, 25, a member of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM).
Billones was arrested Saturday afternoon on Zuellig Avenue, North Reclamation Area (NRA), Mandaue City.
Chief Inspector Genilo Veraque of Subangdaku Police Station 2 said his team arrested Billones after his motorcycle was flagged down for a checkpoint.
During an inspection, police seized a sachet of suspected shabu from Billones.
Glenn Antigua, TEAM chief of operations, has confirmed that Billones was arrested that afternoon.
Billones is a resident of Barangay Centro and an enforcer assigned to maintain and clear the sidewalks from vendors.
Antigua also revealed that a suspension order was served against Billones Friday night for tardiness.
This was his second suspension for the same offense.
Antigua said he requested the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) to terminate Billones' contract.
He said the city, as well as his department, would not tolerate this act and they will dismiss those who will use illegal drugs.
Billones is detained in the holding cell of Subangdaku Police Station 2 and will face a complaint for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In Argao town, a member of non-uniformed personnel (NUP) of Argao police tested positive in a drug test done in five police stations in Cebu Province last week.
The tests were randomly conducted by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) in the pursuit for drug-free workplaces.
CPADAO Chief Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca said that the NUP will be subjected to a confirmatory test.
She added there is a possibility that this is a case of “false positive” because the employee is taking medication.
Last February 19, all 25 police and personnel of Moalboal town and 67 police and NUP in Naga City tested negative of drug use.
Also, no one among the 50 cops of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) tested positive during a drug test last February 20. Last February 26, all 22 cops and NUPs of Catmon town also tested negative of illegal drug use.
This month, CPADAO also assisted in the monitoring of surrenderers of Danao City where three out of 15 individuals tested positive of illegal drug use.
DRUG CHARGES
Meanwhile, a 15-yearold girl is facing charges before the court for alleged possession of dangerous drugs and drugs paraphernalia.
Prosecutor I Russell Busico held the minor, a resident of Sitio Ermita Proper, in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City for trial after finding probable cause.
In an inquest proceeding, the minor who acted with discernment, chose not to undergo further investigation to answer the allegations filed against her. Instead, she manifested to face the charges in court.
Busico recommended P20,000 bail for the minor's temporary liberty for illegal possession of shabu and P40,000 bail for possession of drug paraphernalia.
On February 9, 2018 at around 8 p.m., Carbon policemen conducted a foot patrol within their area of responsibility to monitor all kinds of illegal activities.
While in Barangay Ermita, they saw a girl in a small room covered with a tarpaulin about to sniff shabu. They saw the girl because the room was located at the main entrance of the house.
Immediately, Carbon police rushed to the girl and arrested her.
The police recovered one heat-sealed transparent plastic believed to be shabu weighing 0.04 gram and assorted drugs paraphernalia.