“Dako kaayo akong pagmahay (I regret so much).”
That was all a former bank messenger could say after he was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in barangay Pulangbato, a Cebu City barangay known to be a hot spot for illegal drug activities.
Packs suspected to contain shabu worth P200,000 were allegedly seized from Sotero Lorete, who was arrested by operatives of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Force (CAIDSOTF) past midnight yesterday.
Senior Insp. Eunil Avergonzado, chief of (CAIDSOTF), said Lorete’s arrest was a result of a follow-up operation on last week’s apprehension of suspected drug pusher Rolando Migabon and his alleged runner Lito Lopez in barangay Guba.
Avergonzado said Migabon and Lopez squealed to the police Lorete’s alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.
Avergonzado said arresting drug suspects in Pulangbato poses a big challenge for the police since drug pushers hire lookouts in various areas to detect oncoming policemen. The police official said they have been monitoring Lorete until he agreed to transact with two (CAIDSOTF) operatives who acted as poseur-buyers.
Police said Loretes was arrested after he handed two packs of suspected shabu worth P2,000 to the poseur-buyers.
Police frisked the suspect and seized four big packs believed to contain shabu from him.
Lorete was capable of selling 200 grams of shabu a week, police said.