2 suspected drug traders nabbed in Negros Occidental

MANILA, Philippines – Two suspected drug traders were arrested after they allegedly sold methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” to a poseur buyer in Negros Occidental, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official said Friday.

PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the arrested suspects as Salic Manabilang, 43, a farmer, and resident of Bagondan, Cebu City; and Noel Odtohan, 51, resident of Barangay Zone 1-A, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.

The two were nabbed in a buy-bust operation conducted at Poloy’s Pension, Bacolod Central Market, Bacolod City around 4 p.m. last Wednesday, Cacdac said.

Along with the money used during the operation, also confiscated were four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing roughly 15 grams of shabu.

“The pieces of drug evidence were submitted to the PDEA RO 6 Laboratory Service for forensic examination,” the PDEA chief said.

Both suspects are temporarily detained at PNP back-up 1 Station, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.