Septuagenarian busted over drugs in Lucena City

LUCENA CITY – Police arrested a 77-year-old suspected drug peddler and three other individuals in separate buy-bust operations conducted overnight in this city.

Lucena police head Supt. Vicente Cabatingan said Rodolfo De Castro was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 4 on Wednesday evening, along with Eric Wong, 23; and Juanito Erella, 53, who were both caught while in the act of sniffing crystal meth or “shabu” allegedly bought from De Castro.

Cabatingan said they confiscated from the suspects an estimated P1,850-worth of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, another suspected drug pusher was likewise arrested in this city early Thursday morning.

Police identified the suspect as Manuel Royo, 18. Police said he was arrested after he allegedly sold shabu to an undercover policeman in Barangay Ibabang Dupay.

Police said Royo yielded three sachets of shabu valued at P2,035.

Cabatingan said Royo’s associate Upao Lacson was able to escape but left his improvised 12 gauge shotgun called “sumpak” with one bullet.

All four suspects were subsequently detained at the Lucena City police jail.          /kga