An employee of a former Tagbilaran City councilor was arrested by Cortes police in a buy-bust operation on Thursday dawn.

The operation was set in motion in Cortes after suspect Norman Zapatos, reportedly an employee of former city councilor Macky Olario, refused to surrender to authorities after he was subjected to Oplan Tokhang.

Zapatos, 38 years old and a resident of Brgy. Dela Paz, allegedly continued to sell drugs despite having known his inclusion in the municipal authorities’ drug watch list, said Insp. Dominie Ragosta, Cortes police chief.

During the buy-bust, operatives immediately apprehended Zapatos, after he sold a pack of suspected shabu worth P300 to a police poseur-buyer.

They also recovered four packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia in the alleged drug peddler’s possession.

Authorities are preparing to file charges against Zapatos for violating Section 5 and Section 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or Dangerous Drug Act Series of 2002. (Willy Maestrado)