Filipino veteran actor Julio Diaz was arrested by authorities in Meycauayan, Bulacan last Friday, April 20, in a drug buy-bust operation.
Diaz, whose real name is Mariano de Leon, was caught at dawn possessing 12 grams of crystal meth or shabu.
Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat said the police also arrested Ronald Gomez, Diaz’ driver, for allegedly selling a sachet of crystal meth to an undercover officer, reported Inquirer.net.
Police reports list Diaz as one of the drug users being highly monitored by the Bulacan Provincial Police Office.
Rappler also reported that four sachet of suspected crystal meth with a street value of P60,000, various drug paraphernalia, and marked money were retrieved from the suspects.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Diaz admitted to using drugs, but denied the allegations that he is a drug peddler.
Speaking to the press, he said, “Hindi, ang pagtutulak ho. Siguro paggamit lang po. Nagkataon lang naman siguro na since meron palang buy-bust operation na sinasabi, di ko ho alam na ano…” Diaz did not finish his statement.
Diaz had just completed clinical rehabilitation for drug abuse which was sponsored by fellow actor and now Bulacan Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando.
Diaz appeared in more than 50 films and some of his most notable works were “Bayani” and “Sakay”, which both earned him a FAMAS award nomination for Best Actor in 1993 and 1994, respectively.
Photo credits: PEP
