5 arrested in separate drug busts in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - Five people fell into the hands of the police in separate buy-bust operations in Cebu City last Saturday.

In Barangay Tisa, police arrested a certain Eliseo Laborte Patna, 57, a resident of Sitio Mangga in the same barangay.

A surveillance result led the authorities to conduct the operation against Patna.

During the operation, a police officer acted as poseur-buyer who transacted with Patna.

Police said that Patna handed a small sachet of suspected shabu in exchange for money. After the transaction was consummated, the police then arrested the suspect.

Also recovered from him was another medium-size sachet of suspected shabu and P500 believed to be proceeds from the illegal activity.

Police also arrested Patna's alleged cohort identified as Victor Collaborate, 40, also of Sitio Mangga, for possession of drug paraphernalia like tin foil and lighters allegedly used for sniffing shabu.

A buy-bust operation also led to the arrest of two persons at Garfield Street in Barangay Suba.

Suspects were identified as Federico Cabansay, 66, and Edwin Mercader, 31, both residents of Magsaysay Street in the same barangay.

Police recovered 10 small sachets of suspected shabu from Cabanas and one small sachet from Mercader.

In Barangay Labangon, at least P44,000 worth of suspected shabu were seized in a similar operation.

Police arrested Jay John Ceballos after being caught allegedly selling shabu at Sitio lower Bonbonan.

Seized from him after the transaction was completed were 13 sachets of suspected shabu.

All seized drugs weighed six grams.

All arrested suspects are now in police custody pending the filing of criminal complaints against them for alleged violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). (FREEMAN)