BY FELIPE CELINO

ROXAS City — Policemen arrested an engineer and his colleague for alleged illegal drug pushing here on Friday.

Engr. Julius Marfil, 38, of Brgy. Lanot and Mark Donato, 31, of Brgy. Salocon, Panit-an, Capiz were nabbed during a buy-bust operation.

Recovered from the suspects were eight plastic sachets of metamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), 12 empty sachets, two units of mobile phones, three lighters, one caliber .38 revolver and a motorcycle.

PO3 Antonio Buenvenida said Marfil has been under police surveillance long before the buy-bust operation.

Before the buy-bust operation, the suspects — together with a woman — checked in the Capiz Lodge on Plaridel Street here, police said.

Also recovered from Marfil was the P500 marked money, said the police.

Marfil and Donato are currently detained in the lockup cell of the Roxas City Police Station.

Meanwhile, Roxas City Police Chief, Supt. Kasmir Disomangcop said some state prosecutors have been ordering released some illegal drug and gambling suspects due to some technical issues of their cases.
Despite this, policemen are not demoralized, he said.

He said some of the suspects are well-known personalities here.

According to Disomangcop, reports reaching his office said drug pushers are using lodging houses as places for trade transactions.

In another story, a member of the Philippine Army died after he was stabbed in Jamindan, Capiz on Thursday.

Richard de Juan, 22, of Jamindan town sustained a stab wound on the chest, police said.

He was allegedly stabbed by Vincent Miguel, also of the same town, said the police.

Investigations revealed that de Juan, Miguel and their friends were initially having a drinking binge in a store.

Police also said de Juan has been absent without leave. He failed to report when he was reassigned in Mindanao last year.