CDN PHOTO Benjie Talisic
CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES –A pedicab driver who admitted to pedlling drugs for lack of education, was arrested by Mambaling police past 4 p.m. today with suspected shabu (crystal meth) worth P272,000 in his possession.
Jonathan “Atan” Benting, 41 years old, was nabbed inside the house of his brother in Blk 2 Belguim St. Barangay Suba, Cebu City.
“Grade 4 lang ko wala koy nakamahuan sir mao nang ni sulod, (I only reached Grade 4 and I don’t have special skills that’s why I sold drugs),” the suspect said.
The anti-drug operation was led by Chief Inspector Randy Caballes, chief of the Mambaling Police Station.
Caballes said that Benting’s arrest was the result of weeks of surveillance after some arrested drug personalities pointed to the suspect as their source of illegal drugs.
Their investigation also showed that Benting also peddled drugs in Barangay Pasil.
In fact, a nephew who requested not to be identified, and who is reportedly a member of the barangay’s Anti Drug Abuse Council, told police that his uncle is included in their drug list.
He said that he had been repeatedly advising his uncle to stop his illegal activities.
The nephew also informed the police that the suspect visits them from time to time because the latter’s house was razed by fire. And it was during one of his rare visits that he was caught.