Nurse nabbed for alleged illegal drug possession

MANTICAO, MISAMIS ORIENTAL –– A registered nurse working for the Department of Health (DOH) and assigned in a barangay in Manticao town of Misamis Oriental was arrested Sunday for an illegal drug case.

An official of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 10, who requested not to be named due to the nature of their work, said Charles Trumata, 29, had been the subject of a search warrant issued and signed by Judge Renato Arroyo of the 10th Municipal Circuit Trial Court after having been subjected for surveillance for several months.

The RIU official said operatives found one big sachet and four small sachets of a substance believed to be crystal meth or shabu inside a black box in his room, but Traumata denied he owned the items.

He said he was outside the house, watering the plants, when civilian-dressed policemen arrived, informing them they were serving the search warrant for him.

“My aunt was sitting on the balcony. One of the policemen said he would enter (the house) to see if there was anybody inside. I allowed him (inside) because I did not have anything to hide. I did not know what he was doing inside the house. The door of my room was opened,” Trumata said.

Trumata said he was supposed to conduct orientation for the locally stranded individuals (LSI) undergoing quarantine a day after his arrest but had to pass it on to his colleagues because he was in the detention cell.

Police are now preparing a case for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act against Trumata. Divina Suson, Inquirer Mindanao

ZB