Ex-drug offender busted anew 

A tricycle driver (seated right) was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, following the confiscation of P88,400 worth of suspected shabu Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A former drug offender is back in jail after he was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Vista Alegre here last Thursday.

Police arrested Julius Sumpio, 50, of Barangay Vista Alegre, a tricycle driver, and a street-level individual.

Recovered from him were 13 grams of suspected shabu worth P88,400, the P500 marked money and P300.

Police Captain Elmer Bonilla, head of Police Station 7, said that Sumpio was first busted in 2002. He was then jailed at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

In 2019, he was released from jail after serving his sentence of 18 years, Bonilla said.

Upon his release, Bonilla said that Sumpio drove a tricycle. However, he allegedly returned to engaging in the illegal drug trade because his income was not enough, the station commander added.

Bonilla said that Sumpio alleged that he sourced the illegal drugs from Barangay 27 here. He is detained at Police Station 7.

Meanwhile, two persons were also arrested in Barangay Taculing here that day, with the seizure of P20,400 worth of suspected shabu.