Man nabbed with P4-M worth of  shabu, guns after skirting checkpoint

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A 59-year-old man was arrested with suspected shabu worth more than P4 million and a firearm following a police chase in Pontevedra, Capiz evening of Oct 10, 2022.

But Roberto dela Cruz, a resident of Barangay San Jose, Roxas City, Capiz, was not arrested during a police anti-narcotics operation.

According to Major Syril Punzalan, Pontevedra police chief, the local police were conducting a checkpoint at Barangay Bailan, Pontevedra when dela Cruz passed by.

The checkpoint was mounted after an alarm was sent to neighboring towns about a suspect in a shooting incident in Pres. Roxas town.

Driving a Suzuki Smash motorcycle, dela Cruz reportedly did not stop at the checkpoint. He sped up towards Linampongan village but was later cornered and arrested.

When frisked, dela Cruz yielded a caliber .9mm Armscor pistol (serial number AB71542, a caliber .32 pistol (serial number J111691), and 24 sachets of suspected shabu found inside a sling bag that was placed inside his backpack.

The suspected drugs weighed around 595 grams with an estimated standard drug price of P4,046,000.

The suspect is presently under the custody of Pontevedra Municipal Police Station pending the filing of charges against him for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act). (With a report from Felipe V. Celino)