PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor
AUTHORITIES swooped down again on the suspected drug den situated inside the Bana Compound along Rizal Avenue last week and caught a familiar figure in the illegal shabu business inside with his girlfriend.
Joint elements of the NBI, PDEA, the Pagadian City PNP Office and the 905th Provincial Mobile Group claimed they caught Ivanhoe “Bobby” Bana red-handed this time.
Bobby, according to the police, is regularly mentioned in their list of suspected drug dealers in Pagadian whose house is frequented by addicts almost everyday.
He was caught pushing drugs years ago during a buy bust operation, was charged with violating RA 9165, the Dangerous Drug Act and imprisoned. But his case was later dismissed.
Police records accounted about 25 sachets of plastic sachets containing white crystalline substances 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.
Both Ochotorena and board member Ernesto Mondarte, chairman of the committee on police and public safety, said that the raid at the Bana Compound is in support of Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ war against illegal drugs.
“This time he cannot deny that he is involved” Ochotorena said.
“The governor is serious in her campaign and we need to get our acts together on this problem immediately,” Mondarte seconded.
Cerilles has earlier said she will cleanse Zamboanga del Sur of illegal drugs and loose firearms. “Enough is enough,” she said.