NE drug lord falls; 25 kg shabu seized

By Nelson Bolos

CABANATUAN CITY -- A “well-entrenched drug lord” with more than 240 grams of shabu in 29 plastic sachets was arrested here last week.

Police director Supt.Ponciano Zafra identified identified the apprehended “big time drug pusher” as Bernabe Reyes Candido, 56, here of Ortiz Apartment, Purok 2, Barangay Bantug Norte.

Bernabe was arrested after two search warrants for illegal drugs and firearms were served at his residence around 9 a.m. Thursday. The search warrants were issued by Nueva Ecija Executive Judge Ana Marie Joson-Viterbo.

“Ang focus namin is to stop the flow of drugs. Ang nakuha namin kay Bernabe, kapag ni-repack, aabot sa 8,300 sachets na tig-P500. Ibig sabihin mahigit 8,300 na users, karamihan mga kabataan, ang nawalan ng supply shabu”, said Zafra.    

Beside the haul of illegal drugs, the search on Bernabe’s house also yielded a Norinco cal. 45 pistol, fragmentation grenade, a digital weighing scale, among others. 

In an interview, Bernabe admitted to have been using drugs for more than 20 years while employed as driver of the Genesis Bus lines until 2010.

Zafra, who was designated police chief two weeks ago, said information on Bernabe’s illegal activities was reported to Police Region 3 Director Chief Supt Aaron Aquino by a concerned citizen.

Authorities are verifying unconfirmed reports that Bernabe is being protected by a high ranking police officer.

A Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ID, a police jacket and bull cap and motorcycle plate numbers were also seized from Bernabe.