Gov’t worker, repeat offender nabbed in Bacolod drug busts

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Two women, including a job order government worker, were arrested in separate anti-drug operations here, yielding a combined PHP544,000 worth of suspected shabu.

The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) nabbed 34-year-old “Cha” early Wednesday in Barangay Pta. Taytay after allegedly selling drugs to an undercover operative.

She yielded 50 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP340,000, police said.

“She is a high-value individual and was assigned as an administrative staff at an undisclosed elementary school,” said Police Lt. Richard Legada, assistant chief of CDEU.

Legada said the operation followed three weeks of surveillance and information validation after authorities received a tip about the suspect’s illegal activity.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has been pushing for voluntary drug testing among job order workers to ensure a drug-free city workforce.

“Although not mandatory, we strongly encourage drug testing for all job order employees,” he said in a previous statement.

On Tuesday afternoon, police also arrested a 30-year-old woman in Barangay Mansilingan, who was previously charged with a similar offense and had availed a plea bargain.

Authorities recovered 30 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP204,000 during the operation.

Police classified the second suspect as a street-level individual.

The arrest was carried out by operatives of Police Station 7 in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Unit–Negros Island Region (RIU-NIR).

“This latest accomplishment demonstrates the strengthened collaboration between local and regional law enforcement units in addressing the drug menace in the city,” the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) said in a statement.