2 ex-detainees busted anew in Rizal over illegal drugs

Two former detainees could face jail time anew after their arrest in a buy-bust operation in Taytay, Rizal.

Authorities have been monitoring "Mike" for several weeks until he was finally caught selling illegal drugs at Barangay Dolores, according to Police Captain Arnold Mendoza, deputy chief of Taytay Municipal Police.

"Street level lang ho. Abutan lang sa kalsada. Laging nandun. Nakatambay lang siya.  (This is just street level, trading on the streets, he stays there most of the time.), Mendoza said.

An alias Mark, who was caught buying drugs from Mike, was also arrested.

Mike was jailed in 2022 due to illegal drugs and was released in 2023.  Mark was also detained in 2020 for the same violation.

Police confiscated eight sachets of suspected shabu worth around P170,000.

"Binibili ko lang din po ito ng cash to cash.  Kaliwaan lang din po, tao sa tao lang din po (The suppliers gives me the goods and I pay in cash)," Mike said.

"Marami po kasing mga pangangailangan sa bahay tulad po ng mga pinapaaral na mga anak. (We have needs at home, we need to send the kids to school)," he added.

Meanwhile, Mark said he buys drugs for his personal use but denied peddling the illegal substance.

The two suspects are detained at the Taytay police custodial facility and will face complaints for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.—LDF, GMA Integrated News