PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor
AUTHORITIES swooped down again on the suspected drug den in Bana Compound along Rizal Avenue, Jan. 26, last week and caught a familiar figure in the illegal shabu business and his girlfriend.
Joint elements of the NBI, PDEA, the Pagadian City PNP Office and the 905th Provincial Mobile Group caught red-handed Ivanhoe “Bobby” Bana.
Bobby, according to the police, is regularly mentioned in their list of suspected drug dealers in Pagadian and has been known publicly in addicts’ circle of having converted his residence as a drug den.
He was caught pushing drugs years ago during a buy bust, was charged with violating RA 9165, the Dangerous Drug Act and imprisoned. His case was later dismissed.
Police records accounted about 25 sachets of plastic sachets containing white residues believed to be shabu were confiscated from Bana along with several paraphernalia and P1200.
PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena has requested to withhold the name of Bobby’s girlfriend, a minor, who was arrested with him.
Ochotorena added that the present raid at the Bana Compound is in support of Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ was against illegal drugs.
“This time he cannot deny that he (Bobby) is [not] involved,” Ochotorena said of Bana.