A MAN was arrested for drug peddling in Bacolod City, the fifth member of his family apprehended for the offense.
BACOLOD CITY – A 23-year-old man was apprehended in a buy-bust operation in Purok Paraiso, Barangay Banago, this city, on Thursday, Feb. 12, becoming the fifth member of his family to be arrested for drug peddling.
The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) arrested the suspect, Janjan, listed as a high-value individual.
Seized from the suspect was 130 grams of suspected shabu valued at P884,000.
Police Lt. Richard Legada, CDEU officer-in-charge, revealed that the suspect’s parents and two sisters were arrested for drug pushing but were later released.
“It’s like a family business,” said Legada who expressed concern over the suspect’s arrest. “If someone gets caught, someone else will just replace them, and for them, money from illegal drugs comes fast. And that’s probably what they’ve come to think of as their livelihood,” Legada said.
He stressed the importance of the whole-of-nation approach involving barangays, local government, Department of Health (DOH), and other concerned government agencies in such situation wherein intervention is necessary, since police are more on law enforcement operations.
The suspect was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities for some time.
Authorities conducted two weeks of casing and surveillance after receiving reports of his alleged illegal drug transactions.
The suspect is detained at Police Station 3. He faces appropriate charges.
Legada said they are uncertain how the suspect’s other family members were released. He said they may have availed themselves of a plea bargaining agreement.