Suspected drug peddler falls

Police find P354,000 worth of ‘shabu’ on Melchor Villanueva who eluded arrest last April

CIB chief Romeo Santander says Sitio Mahayahay in Barangay Calamba is closely monitored due to reported prevalence of illegal drugs

ALLEGED drug pusher Melchor Villanueva managed to escape from the police five months ago. He didn't have the same luck yesterday.

Villanueva, 46, was finally handcuffed before he could jump out of the window of his house on A. Lopez St. in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City.

Cebu City Intelligence Branch (CIB) operatives found at least P354,000 worth of suspected shabu on him during a buy-bust operation where an undercover policeman posed as a customer to Villanueva shortly before 2 a.m.

CIB Chief Romeo Santander said that he hopes Villanueva's arrest would lessen the supply of shabu in Sitio Mahayahay, but the place has to be monitored because of a report that illegal drug trade has become prevalent in the area.

Villanueva was arrested in the same house where he and his live-in partner tried to escape from an April 16 anti-drug operation by jumping out of the window.

Villanueva was able to flee but his live-in partner landed on a steel bar that pierced her body during the leap. Identified as 42-year-old Maria Liza Diaz, she died before reaching the hospital.

Santander said that the suspect will have to face two charges for selling and possession of illegal drugs.

He said they resumed surveillance on Villanueva after receiving reports that the suspect had returned to Calamba.

Villanueva is allegedly a level-two drug pusher, who can dispose of about 200 grams of metamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, every week.

Villanueva, however, denied the allegations.

“Di to ako, wala ko kahibawo ana (That wasn't mine. I didn't know about that),” he said during an interview while in police detention.

Santander said they seized from the suspect a medium pack of suspected shabu that weighed 25 grams and five small sachets of the same substance.

Villanueva will face double charges of selling and possession of illegal drugs as violation to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.