Ex-inmate, blue guard charged for illegal drug peddling

By Felipe V Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Illegal drug cases were filed against a former jail inmate and a security guard following their arrest in a drug buy-bust operation Tuesday afternoon at Cassandra crossing in Brgy. Punta Tabuc here.

Michael Bergantinos, 46, of Brgy. Punta Tabuc and his friend Arnold Clarete, 38, a security guard and resident of Brgy. Angas Batan, Aklan were charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Roxas City Prosecutor’s Office.

The two were arrested in a drug buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team of Roxas City PNP led by Master Sgt. Michael Eblacas under the supervision of Lt. Col. Francisco Paguia, Roxas City PNP chief.

Recovered from the suspects were five sachets of suspected shabu weighing 5 grams with an estimated street value of P102,000 and the P1,500 marked money.

According to Paguia, Bergantinos was arrested on July 27, 2023, for selling an unlicensed firearm but he managed to post bail on July 31, 2023. He said the suspect was listed as a street level individual by the police.

Paguia said that Bergantinos was placed under surveillance for a month before the operation was conducted.

The two are presently in the custody of the Roxas City Component Police Station.