Cop Nabbed While Buying Shabu

A police officer was arrested after he was caught buying methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, from a suspected drug pusher in northern Cebu Tuesday.

The police officer, identified as 29-year-old PO1 Michael Monares, who is with the Tourist Police Unit of the Cebu City Police, was not a target but was arrested in a follow-up operation after a drug buy-bust operation.

The anti-illegal drugs unit of the Danao City Police, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), conducted an operation at 2 a.m. Tuesday against suspected drug pusher Saturnino Lauro, 50, who surrendered last month under ‘Oplan Tokhang’.

During the operation, Lauro was with another suspected pusher, Samie Sinilong, alias Samboy, who was the one who handed the pack of shabu to the operative who was posing as a buyer.

After the money was handed over, policemen rushed to arrest the suspects but Sinilong was able to run.

Police were able to arrest Lauro, and a certain Sari Hermoso, 22, who allegedly bought a small sachet of shabu during the operation.

Recovered from them were six small packs of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.

Police at about 10 a.m. Tuesday pursued Sinilong, who is under the Danao police drug watch list.

Operatives saw Sinilong having a transaction with a customer, who turned out to be Monares.

Recovered from their possession were four packs of suspected shabu and a government-issued Glock .9mm.

Danao police said Monares, who was suspended from Aug. 1 to 11 for “simple neglect of duty”, was brought to the police crime laboratory in Cebu City for a drug test. (PNA) CVL/EB/RSM