Couple nabbed with P170-K worth of ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police nabbed a couple with 25 grams of suspected shabu worth P170,000 in Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental last Monday.

Arrested were John Herwin Castro, 30, and his live-in partner Princess Ditchella, 29, both residents of the said village.

Police Major Kenneth Gratones, town police chief, said the suspects are alleged newly-identified street level individuals.

But the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) upgraded their category to high value individuals due to the drug recovery, he added.

Gratones said that it took them almost a month to monitor the couple after they received reports about their alleged engagement in the illegal activity.

Police also confiscated from them an improvised tooter and the P500 marked money.

Gratones said that they have also recovered from Castro a .38 caliber revolver loaded with five ammunition.

The couple will be charged for the sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs, while Castro will have an additional case for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, according to Gratones.