Tacloban City – A 53-year old male drug personality was arrested by anti-drug elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office VIII and Tacloban City Police Office-CAIDSOTF during implementation of Search Warrant operation at Bgry. 74, Lower Nula-Tula, Tacloban City on May 26, 2015.

PDEA Regional Office VIII Officer-in-Charge Dir. Laurefel P. Gabales identified the suspect as Romeo Balintong y Gravoso, married and resident Brgy. 74, Lower Nula-Tula, Tacloban City.

At around 06:30 PM, joint elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 and Tacloban City Police Office- CAIDSOTF implemented a Search Warrant against the suspect and resulted to his arrest. Found in his possession and control were five (5) tea-bags of suspected Marijuana and four (4) pcs. heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu and various drug paraphernalia.

Balintong is temporarily detained at PDEA Detention Facility. He will be charged for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165.