By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A 35-year-old sewer from Gagalangin, Tondo, this city was arrested Saturday afternoon after police caught him with suspected shabu along a riverside estero, following a tip from a concerned resident.
The suspect, identified as Arnel Cezar y Dela Cruz, was collared around 4:00 PM on April 26 along Riverside, Estero De Sunog Apog near the corner of Mendoza Street, Barangay 182, Gagalangin.
Gagalangin PCP officers PMSg Ryan Carta and Pat Joseph Bernabe Peñaflor, under PCP Commander PCPT Jeffrey O Montero, were on routine patrol when a citizen flagged them about alleged drug distribution in the area.
Upon verification, police arrested Cezar and recovered from him one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.
The sachet, marked “RSC 04-26-2026” with signature, weighed about 0.2 grams with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P1,360.
Police informed Cezar of his violation under Section 11, Article II of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and read him his constitutional rights.
After markings and inventory at the scene, he was brought to the SDEU Office at around 5:10 PM for investigation.
The seized evidence will be turned over to the Manila Police District Forensic Unit for examination. Cezar is temporarily detained at the MPD PS-1 custodial facility for documentation.
Charges are being prepared for filing, according to investigator-on-case PSSg Robert James Ramos.
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