Boatswain nabbed for shabu

They will still be working to identify the source of the drugs of taken from Tabotabo and who his customers are

Authorities on Monday reported that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Jagna, together with the Police force and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of Bohol, arrested the boatswain of a ferry for possession of illegal drugs on Sunday.

PCG-CV spokesman Lt. Grade Michael Encina told media that they received tips that a certain Reuben Tabotabo,43 of Southern Leyte, a crew of the vessel is allegedly selling shabu. Initial reports said that at around 8:15 p.m. on 18 August 2019, Coast Guard Jagna, together with Jagna Police and PDEA Bohol, arrested Tabotabo after he was found in possession of two sachets of suspected shabu. Authorities noted that upon follow-up inspection inside the cabin of Tabotabo on board the ship he was working at, they also found an estimated 1.25 grams of suspected shabu with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P8,500.

Tabotabo was turned over for detention and filing of case to the Jagna Police Station in Bohol.

The ferry plied the Jagna, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro City route every Sunday. According to Lt. Junior Grade Michael John Encina, public information officer of PCG in Central Visayas, they will still be working to identify the source of the drugs of taken from Tabotabo and who his customers are.

The operation on the said vessel is part of the iCARE Campaign Plan of PCG-7 aimed at nabbing ship crew members involved in illegal drugs. The PCG-Central Visayas in a joint operation of the Bohol Provincial Intelligence Branch and Jagna Police Station Sunday night busted a crew member of MV Filipinas-Cagayan de Oro commercial vessel operated by Cokaliong Shipping Lines while on board the vessel.