TARGET-LISTED PUSHER FALLS IN PDEA BUY-BUST

A target-listed drug pusher faces charges for violation of the anti-drug law after he was arrested in a joint buy-bust operation conducted by operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 12 (PDEA RO 12), Sarangani Provincial Police Office Intelligence Division and Alabel Municipal Police Station.

Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr., PDEA Director General, identified the suspect as Ricky V. Mancera, 37 years old, male, married, a resident of Purok 8, Brgy. Poblacion, Alabel, Sarangani Province, and a “balot” vendor. Records showed that Mancera is a target-listed drug personality and was under surveillance by agents for quite some time for his notorious activity.

Gutierrez said that the arrest took place at around 9:30pm on October 07, 2011 during a Miss Gay contest at Sitio 110, Brgy. Maribulan, Alabel, Sarangani Province. The suspect, who was with four other male companions, was arrested after selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover agent.

Upon the suspect’s arrest, a commotion ensued and one of his companions struggled against an operative and eventually escaped. The operatives were prompted to respond and ran after the suspect’s cohorts. The escaping group fired at the pursuing law enforcers, hitting a 9-year-old girl on her upper arm. She is now out of danger and undergoing recovery after her successful surgery at the Gensan Doctors Hospital.

The target-listed suspect was arrested but his cohorts were able to elude arrest. Also recovered from the suspect were two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, and a five hundred peso bill (P500.00).

The suspect is detained at PDEA RO 9 Detention Facility after charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 (Selling and Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were filed against him at the Sarangani Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. Meanwhile, the confiscated pieces of evidence were submitted to PNP Crime Laboratory Office 9 for custody. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency