Ex-cop nabbed in drug bust

A former policeman was arrested in a buy-bust operation in barangay San Vicente, Bogo City, northern Cebu, Monday afternoon.

Sandro Arriesgado, 35, allegedly sold one medium pack of suspected shabu to a policeman who posed as buyer.

His arrest came days after Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez complained about the rising drug trafficking activities in his city.

Chief Insp. Ceferino A. Tabay Jr. said  Arriesgado worked for the PNP for 10 years. He was dismissed in 2005 due to absences without official leave (AWOL).

Arriesgado is a native of Esperanza, Masbate.  Bogo City police received reports about his illegal activities a month ago and put him under surveillance.

“He (Arriesgado) was in our target list,” Tabay told Cebu Daily News in Cebuano.

The police used P4,000 buy-bust money when they transacted with Ariesgado outside his rented house at 5 p.m. Monday.

Ariesgado resisted arrest but was cornered by the policemen.

The police in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) seized one big pack, one medium pack and one small pack of suspected shabu, three medium sachets with shabu residue, drug paraphernalia, two disposable lighters, two Samsung cell phone units and a brown wallet with P390 cash and identification cards from Arriesgado’s possession.

Tabay said the estimated street value of the seized illegal drugs is more than P20,000.

Arriesgado, who denied the allegations against him, is detained at the Bogo City detention cell pending filing of charges.

Mayor Martinez earlier asked the PDEA-7 to send agents to check what they suspect are activities of a drug syndicate in Bogo City.

Martinez said Bogo City is strategically located and illegal drugs can easily be transported to other areas.

Tabay said the Bogo City police noticed the trend of increasing illegal drug trade in public high schools in November and December last year.

In a separate phone interview, Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu provincial police chief, said he doesn’t know Arriesgado’s background. But he said that he was already dismissed from service.

“This our message that we mean business here. We are intensifying our campaign against illegal drugs based on the complaints of our towns,” Comendador told Cebu Daily News.

Regional Director Jigger Montallana of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) said they will continue to strengthen their fight against illegal drugs.