Cops seize P1.4M drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Three alleged drug pushers fell into the hands of the police in separate operations in the past two days, resulting to the confiscation of P1.4 million worth of suspected illegal drugs.

This, as Bogo City Mayor Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr. ordered the demolition of 30 illegal shelters on a "no-build zone" along the coastlines of Barangay Sambag and Gairan allegedly used as drug dens.

Martinez has sent individual notices to identified owners last May 17, a day after he issued an executive order creating an ad-hoc committee tasked to study the proliferation of informal settlers in danger zones along the coastlines of the Bogo Bay.

In ordering the demolition, the mayor invoked Republic Act 7279 (Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992), which prohibits the occupation or construction of houses and other structures on shorelines, river banks, estuaries, and waterways, among others.

He said the city has increasingly become the favorite place for drug users and drug dealers to do business in.

He warned that there is no other recourse but to have structures in a "no-build zone" demolished.

Meanwhile, a buy-bust operation Tuesday afternoon resulted to the seizure of P944,000 worth of suspected shabu weighing 80 grams and the arrest of Roger Tagayong, 36, a resident of Barangay Tejero, Cebu City and Junmel Alivio, 25, of Villagonzalo II, also of Tejero, at about 3:05 p.m.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 operatives led Superintendent Fermin Armendarez III launched the operation after they were able to confirm the alleged illegal activities of Tagayong, who was the subject of the operation 

Tagayong and Alivio were detained at the CIDG-7 stockade pending the filing of complaints for violations of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) for selling of illegal drugs, possession of illegal drugs and drugs paraphernalia.

Armendarez and his men seized as evidence five rectangular, transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu; six medium-size plastic sachets containing suspected shabu; 12 lighters allegedly used in sniffing shabu; one bamboo stick used in "repacking " shabu, one bundle of medium-size empty plastic packs; one large-sized roll of aluminum foil.

One improvised burner used for sniffing or repacking shabu, one bundle long-size transparent plastic used for repacking shabu, four pieces of disposable lighters, four pieces of rolled aluminum foil used as tooter, one piece of improvised cartoon scoop, P1,000 buy-bust money and P900 believed to be proceeds.

Around 4 a.m. the next day, Wednesday, policemen arrested Randy Gonzaga, 41, after he allegedly sold a pack of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pulog, Consolacion town.

Gonzaga was under surveillance for two weeks before the police decided to launch the sting operation.

A poseur-buyer bought a pack of suspected shabu worth P200 from Gonzaga, who was immediately collared after he received the marked money and handed the shabu pack.

A subsequent inspection on Gonzaga, led to the discovery in his possession of a pouch that contained seven medium packs and 11 small packs of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, and P2,300 cash.

Gonzaga was said to be a level two drug pusher, which means he can dispose of at least 25 grams of shabu a week.

The seized drugs, which weighed 40.47 grams, had a P477,000 street value, said Senior Inspector Wilson Abot, Consolacion town's police chief.

Gonzaga is included on the list of Consolacion Police Station's top priority target for selling illegal drugs.  — Gregg M. Rubio, Mylen P. Manto,  Bryner L. Diaz (FREEMAN)