Ex-convict, 2 users nabbed in drug bust
A convicted criminal was arrested following a buy bust operation Wednesday afternoon at a drug den in Bakhaw village, a known drug haven in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City.
Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 arrested Ronald Caro, also a Bakhaw resident.
Aside from Caro, the police also collared Jesmar Soliman of Lopez Jaena Sur, La Paz district and Sheldon Canasarias of Brgy. Calaparan, Arevalo district.
PDEA legal counsel Ronnie Delicana said that Soliman and Canasarias bought shabu from Caro.
“They were in the area to have a pot session,” he said.
One of them claimed they put their money inside a slot at Caro’s abode in exchange for shabu.
Caro was immediately handcuffed after handing a plastic sachet of suspect shabu worth P1,000 to a poseur buyer.
During the operation, Delicana said that Caro and his two “clients” attempted to fight with the PDEA 6 operatives.
Caro was also found with a caliber .38 revolver with 12 rounds of ammunition.
But the suspect vehemently denied the allegation.
“I did not try to escape and I don’t keep drugs,” he said in Hiligaynon.
Caro said he was staying at his sibling’s house to seek temporary shelter for him and his child.
He said the money taken from him was hard-earned and was intended for his child’s allowance, but he said the anti-drug operatives confiscated it.
They also planted evidence against me, he added.
Caro, based on criminal records, was released from the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in 2000 after he was granted conditional parole for murder.
Three years later, he was arrested for a drugs case but he was exonerated.
Delicana said they are preparing charges against Caro for violation of Section 5 (selling) and Section 11 (possession) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
