GENERAL SANTOS CITY, (PNA) — Government anti-drug operatives arrested on Monday two alleged illegal drug pushers in a buy-bust operation at a polling center in Alabel town in Sarangani Province.
Senior Supt. Edwin Minion, Sarangani police director, identified the suspects as Randy Orsal and Benjamin Lacaba, who were reportedly included in the drug watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 12 and the Sarangani Provincial Police Office.
He said the two were arrested after allegedly selling metamphetamine hydrocloride or shabu to an undercover PDEA agent at the vicinity of the Alabel Central Elementary School at around 10:30 a.m.
A search on the two suspects yielded a large sachet of shabu reportedly weighing around five grams and 12 other small sachets weighing two grams, he said.
“Our operatives have been watching the activities of these suspects in the last four days and they finally had the chance to get them this morning,” Minion said in a radio interview.
He said their investigators are now preparing the charges against the suspects for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Section 5 of RA 9165 refers to the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs.”
The official said it was just a coincidence that the operation, which was conducted by joint elements from PDEA 12, Alabel municipal police station and Sarangani provincial police public safety company, happened on election day.
Orsal is a son of a candidate for barangay chair in the area.
Minion said he had instructed local police units to continue with their regular operations and campaigns even with Monday’s scheduled barangay elections.
Last week, a government employee in Maitum town in Sarangani was also arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in the area.