Police charge jailer caught with shabu

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

POLICE on Wednesday pressed criminal charges against a prison guard who was caught with suspected shabu during a buy-and-bust operation in Barangay 34, this city, early this week.

The suspect, Jail Officer 3 Arvien Ybañez, 45, of Barangay Bulua, was charged with selling and possession of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, otherwise known as shabu, by the Agora police before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Agora police commander Chief Insp. Allan Curato said Ybañez was caught in the act by the police during the Barangay 34 operation on Tuesday evening.

He said the suspected had three sachets of suspected shabu, a P500-marked money, and 9mm pistol.

Curato said police have been coordinating with officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology given that Ybañez is under them.

The suspect has been assigned to the city jail in Barangay Lumbia.

Curato said the suspect is considered as a “high-value target” given his connections in the government, specifically in the BJMP.

He said the BJMP regional office was preparing to file administrative charges against Ybañez.

Ybañez has denied possession of the suspected shabu but decline to elaborate.

City jail warden Kenny Rodillo lauded the police for arresting JO3 Ybañez but he noted that the suspected tested negative for drug use during a random test last year.

He said none of the BJMP personnel under him tested positive for substance abuse.

Rodillo said he was surprised to learn about the arrest of one of his subordinates but added that he would not be tolerant of jail guards involved in illegal drugs. He said erring prison authorities deserve punishment.

“I will not hesitate to recommend for the dismissal of any of my personnel using or involved in the distribution of drugs,” he said.

Rodillo said he would ask the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to keep an eye on local BJMP personnel.