‘Bigtime drug pusher’ arrested in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 arrested an alleged bigtime drug pusher in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City early yesterday morning.

Arrested was Reynaldo "Brod" Garcia, 43, reportedly the top drug pusher in Carcar City where he used to reside.

PDEA-7 agents arrested Garcia at his current residence and alleged hideout in Villaverna Subdivision in Talisay at around 5 a.m. yesterday.

Garcia, allegedly a drug pusher for a year already, disposes shabu in Carcar City, Talisay City, Naga City, San Fernando, and even Lapu-Lapu City, according to PDEA-7 information officer Leia Albiar.

"Estimated one year na siya nga drug pusher base sa investigation, unya nahimo ni siya nga big-time after nihawa ang mga dagko sa Carcar unya siya ang nipuli," Albiar said.

Albiar added that the suspect's supplier of illegal drugs is from Cebu City and the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Garcia, considered a high-value target, can allegedly dispose of two to three kilos of shabu per week.

The suspect's name surfaced after small-time drug pushers arrested in previous operations by PDEA-7 revealed Garcia as their supplier.

The PDEA-7 then placed Garcia under surveillance for three weeks before yesterday's operation was hatched.

A total of 105 grams of suspected shabu worth P315,000 as per Dangerous Drugs Board's value were confiscated from the suspect during the operation.

Garcia vehemently denied the accusation, saying that it has been three months yet since he resided in Talisay City.

He admitted being jailed before for illegal drugs and did not surrender to the authorities under Oplan Tokhang, saying his name is not on the list of the police.

Charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against Garcia, Albiar said.

Lapu-Lapu

In Lapu-Lapu City, three men were also arrested in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Kalubihan, Barangay Marigondon yesterday.

Arrested were Jeveden Igot, 35, a resident of the area, and his neighbors and alleged cohorts Lawrence Amodia, 18, and Vilboy Patigdas, 31.

 Police Officer 3 Rosvelt Matuob of Marigondon Police Station said Igot was the subject of the operation while Patigdas and Amodia were reportedly about to buy shabu from Igot.

"While nag-conduct sa operation, nipalit ning duha. Nadakpan nato ug nakuhaan nato sila og tagsa ka-pakete sa shabu," Matuob said.

Eight small sachets of suspected shabu and P600 cash believed to be proceeds of the illegal activity were confiscated from Igot. The P300 buy-bust money was also confiscated from the suspect.

The estimated value of the seized shabu is around P3,600, said Matuob.

Matuob said that the three suspects were placed under Oplan Tokhang but did not surrender to the authorities.

"Gisige og Tokhang pero wala mi-surrender, gi-sigehan sila og hangyo wala g'yud," the police officer said.

The suspects have denied selling and using drugs, police said.

The three of them are currently jailed at Marigondon Police Station and will face charges for violation of RA 9165. (FREEMAN)