An employee of the Cagayan de Oro government was arrested with suspected shabu worth more than P20,000 during a buy-bust operation.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Northern Mindanao (PDEA-10) identified the suspect as alias “Dante,” a regular employee assigned at the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.

Seized from the suspect were sachets of suspected shabu weighing around three grams and worth more than P20,000.

“The amount of the recovered drugs is more or less 3 grams amounting to 20,400. So right now, naghikay ang mga operatiba nato sa mga documents for the filling of the cases,” PDEA-10 Director, Alex Tablate, said.

The suspect is now detained and will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165).

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the suspect for a statement, as of this writing.

“When it comes to anti-drug operations nga continuously being conducted by PNP and PDEA regardless na kung unsa ang affiliations nila either private citizen or mga empleyado o mga official, wala ta’y mahimo kay mao mani ang atong mandato,” Tablate added.

The local government condemned the incident and was saddened upon learning that an employee was involved in illegal drug activities. It is, nevertheless, thankful that the act was discovered and acted upon.

The incident has been referred to the City Legal Office and the Human Resources Office for appropriate action, considering that the suspect was granted regular status only recently.

“Nagpagawas dayun si mayor og kamanduan nga dili ta ga-tolerate og mga illegal nga ginabuhat sa mga empleyado,” City Mayor Spokesperson, Janboy Actuba, said.