ORMOC CITY – A tricycle driver was confiscated with around PHP68,816.0 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Purok 5, Barangay Airport, Ormoc City, at about 8:49 P.M. of February 25, 2025.
A total of 10.12 grams of shabu was accordingly seized from the suspect, who was accordingly tagged as a High-Value Individual (HVI) and was identified as alias “Renner,” 39 years old, married, tricycle driver, Filipino, and a resident of Barangay Can-adieng, Ormoc City. The poseur-buyer was able to buy from the said suspect two (2) pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu with an estimated weight of 0.26 grams in exchange for a genuine five-hundred peso bill (PHP500.00) used as buy-bust money and three (3) pieces of five hundred peso bills (PHP1,500.00) as bogus money.
Moreover, the conduct of the search also resulted in the confiscation of two (2) pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu with an estimated weight of 9.86 grams and a DDB value of PHP67,048.00.
According to the suspect, he is peddling drugs because his income as a tricycle driver, which is PHP400-500 per day, is not sufficient. The suspect was brought to the Ormoc City Police Station 4 for proper disposition and documentation and will face charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Art II of R.A. No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended by RA No. 10640.
The confiscated drug evidence will be brought to the Ormoc City Crime Laboratory for chemical examination. The successful operation was implemented by the joint operating units of the Ormoc City Police Office and the Philippine Drug and Enforcement Agency (PDEA). (By Gwen Maurillo / EV Mail Feb. 24 – Mar. 2, 2025 issue)
