A rookie policeman was caught allegedly in the act of buying shabu from a suspected drug pusher yesterday morning in Barangay Sabang, Danao City, northern Cebu.
PO1 Michael Vincent Beniabila Monares, 29, a member of Tourist Police Unit of the Cebu City Police Office, was one of the four drug suspects arrested in a series of police operations in Danao City that started yesterday dawn.
Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, Danao City Police Station chief, said they were conducting a buy-bust operation at 2:25 a.m. in Barangay Sabang against suspected drug pusher Saturnino Lauro, 50, who already surrendered last month through the Oplan Tokhang.
During the operation, Lauro was with another suspected pusher Sammy Sinilong, 29, who was the one giving a pack of alleged shabu to the undercover police agent.
After the buy-bust money was received by the suspects, the other policemen immediately rushed to arrest the suspects but Sinilong was able to run.
The police were able to arrest Lauro and a certain Sari Hermoso, 22, who allegedly bought a small sachet of shabu during the operation. The police recovered six small packs of alleged shabu worth P3,776 from Lauro.
Batobalonos said during a follow-up operation at past 10 a.m., they sighted Sinilong at the interior portion of Barangay Sabang dealing with a customer, who turned out to be Monares.
When the transaction was consummated, Batobalonos said they immediately arrested them.
The police seized a small sachet of suspected shabu and the government-issued Glock 47 gun from Monares and another three packs of alleged shabu worth around P2,360 from Sinilong.
Batobalonos said Monares was shocked and turned emotional upon his arrest.
“Pwerte gyud niyang hilak, maluoy pud baya unta ta kay kahibawo man ta unsa kalisod aron makasulod sa police service pero unsaon man nga iya mang gisudlan ang paggamit og shabu (He cried too much; I pity him because it is not easy to enter the police service but he has to face the consequences for using shabu),” said Batobalonos.
Monares is a father of three young children — the eldest is 11 and the youngest is 3. His wife, who works as a public high school teacher in Barangay Suba, Danao City, also cried after learning of Monares’ arrest.
Batobalonos said they learned from neighbors that Monares went on AWOL (absent without official leave).
Monares admitted that he did not report to work for over one month because he was no longer receiving a salary. He, however, did not explain why.
In a check with the Police Regional Office (PRO 7), Batobalonos learned that Monares was suspended from August 1 to 11 for simple neglect of duty. It was not specified, however, if his suspension was related to his AWOL.
Batobalonos said Monares claimed that he was new in using drugs. The wife, whose name was not disclosed, also claimed ignorance of her husband’s vice.
“Nagduda lang kuno siya nga mogamit ang iyang bana. Sige gani silag away pero dili daw moangkon (She doubted that her husband was using drugs.
They often quarreled but the husband won’t admit),” Batobalonos said.
Monares was brought to PNP Crime Laboratory yesterday afternoon for drug testing. He will be charged for violation of section 11 (possession of drugs) under the RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous drugs Act.
Lauro and Sinilong will also be charged for violation of sections 5 (drug pushing) and 11 of RA 9165. Hermoso will also be charged for violation of section 11.
When police asked why he continued to sell drugs despite having surrendered, Lauro said: “Kamoy mobuhi sa akong asawa ug unom ka mga anak? (Would you support my wife and my six children?)”
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