Suspected drug peddler claims evidence was ‘planted’

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A 47-year-old woman caught in a drug buy-bust operation Saturday afternoon in Barangay Lawaan, Roxas City claimed that the alleged illegal drugs recovered from her were “planted” by operatives.

Antipolo Dela Cruz told reporters here that she was driving her motorcycle when the police blocked her path and introduced themselves as members of the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Roxas City PNP.

She said she was immediately arrested for illegal drug pushing.

Dela Cruz said she preferred to be shot than to be jailed once more.

“Mas maayo nalang nga ginluthang na lang ako sang mga pulis sang sa liwat magbalik sa presohan bangud matarong na ako nga nagapangabuhi upod sang akun live-in partner kag mga ginikanan sa Barangay Jumaguicjic,” she said.

She admitted having used illegal drugs which she bought from her friends, but she denied peddling shabu.

Dela Cruz was arrested on January 23, 2018 for the same offense in Brgy. Lawaan here but she was temporarily released after she applied for probation.

But the operatives claimed that the marked money and sachets of suspected illegal drug were recovered from the possession and control of the suspect.

Police clarified that it took more than three weeks of surveillance and monitoring before the buy bust operation was conducted.

Authorities recovered from Dela Cruz 10 sachets of suspected shabu, P500 marked money, motorcycle, and cellphone.

The suspect is presently detained at the Roxas City police station while charges for violations of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against her.