MANILA, Philippines—Anti-narcotics agents arrested a Pasay City barangay captain (village chief) on Wednesday in Makati City for selling methamphetamine hydrochloride or what is called in the streets as “shabu” to a police who posed as a buyer, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Thursday.
“Shabu” is also known as the poor man’s cocaine.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. identified the arrested suspect as Reynaldo Rosaban, a.k.a Kap, 44, the captain of Barangay (village) 117, Zone 14 in Pasay City.
He said an operative of PDEA National Capital Region (PDEA-NCR) under Director Pedrito Magsino acted as poseur-buyer and entered into a transaction with Rosaban, who agreed to meet along Arnaiz Avenue corner Evangelista Street in Makati City.
In a signal, PDEA agents immediately rushed to the scene and arrested Rosaban.
Fifty grams of shabu was confiscated from Rosaban.
Rosaban faces charges for violation of Section 5 (sale), Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA said he is temporarily detained at the PDEA custodial facility awaiting court order for proper disposition.
“We have been observing a trend that barangay officials continue to engage in illegal-drug activities in their communities. They tolerate such illegal activities right under their noses, even acting as protectors or coddlers of drug groups,” Gutierrez said.
“Either that or they neglect their sworn duties and responsibilities to care for the welfare of their constituents,” Gutierrez said.
He added that in the last two years, five barangay captains were arrested for illegal-drug activities nationwide.
Originally posted at 07:17 pm | Thursday, April 19, 2012