Tapaz government worker faces drug charges after buy-bust

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A 60-year-old regular employee of the local government unit of Tapaz, Capiz, who was arrested Wednesday evening last week in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Daan Banwa, Tapaz, will face an administrative case aside from criminal charges filed by the police.

Lawyer Atlas Catalan, Tapaz municipal administrator, said that as a regular employee of the municipal government, alias Toto should properly follow the rules and procedures under the civil service code. He said a preventive suspension had been issued against him for grave misconduct while an investigation is ongoing.

Because of the incident, Tapaz Mayor Rex Dante Palomar will conduct a random drug test on all municipal government workers of Tapaz to ensure none of them are using illegal drugs.

Alias Toto was classified as a high-value individual and a resident of the area. He was assigned at the Municipal Agriculturist Office and had been in government service for 15 years.

Recovered from the suspect were three sachets of suspected shabu weighing 10 grams with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 68,000.

The operation was conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the Tapaz Philippine National Police, led by officer in charge Police Maj. Gregg Anthony V. Salbang, under the supervision of Police Col. Albert D. Tapulao, provincial director of the Capiz Police Provincial Office.

The suspect is presently under the custody of the Tapaz PNP station, while charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were filed against him.