High-value drug target arrested in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - A high-value drug target was arrested in an entrapment operation in Barangay Suba, Cebu City Sunday night.

Meanwhile, two other alleged drug peddlers survived separate shooting incidents while 13 others were arrested in different police operations.

Sheila Abellana, 36, reportedly yielded 29 grams of shabu which was valued at P342,200.

She reportedly sourced her supply from the National Bilibid Prison.

City Intelligence Branch Chief Christopher Navida told The FREEMAN that Abellana had been under their surveillance for a month already after she was named by her alleged cohort, Melchor Ocarol, who was arrested in Barangay Pasil in November last year.

"Under monitoring po namin siya. Upon the directive of the city director (Senior Superintendent Joel Doria), we conducted the buy-bust operation," he said.

He disclosed that the suspect was a high-value target and could dispose of 100 grams of shabu per week.

Abellana is now under police custody pending the filing of criminal complaint against her before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office for alleged violation of the Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

In Lapu-Lapu City, Jemel Inoc, 38, was shot in his left arm for allegedly fighting back at personnel of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-City Intelligence Branch (LCPO-CIB) in an operation in Sitio Pool, Barangay Bankal around 11 a.m. yesterday.

Recovered from Inoc were suspected drugs worth P70,000.

LCPO-CIB Deputy Chief Joey Bicoy said Inoc resisted arrest and pulled out his firearm, which prompted one of his personnel to shoot the suspect.

Inoc's companion, Melchor Niñanel, was also arrested.

Hours earlier, six persons were also apprehended in Sitio Dumpsite, Barangay Mactan.

Around 4:50 a.m., elements of the LCPO-CIB arrested twins Marilou and Marinel Labitad, both 36, after they yielded 18 small sachets of shabu.

Their alleged cohort and neighbor, Armando Calipis, 36, was also arrested.  Seized from him were six sachets of suspected shabu.

Another team of the LCPO-CIB who operated in Sitio Dumpsite arrested 26-year-old Maria Le Sasing, Romeo Edaño, 29, and Armando Carillas, 40, around 5:40 a.m. yesterday.

Police confiscated a medium pack of shabu and alleged proceeds from the illegal trade worth P680 from Sasing; eight sachets from Edaño and seven sachets from Carillas.

In Sitio Upper Matumbo, Barangay Pusok, five persons were arrested for allegedly having a session inside a drug den around 3:50 a.m. yesterday.

Police Chief Inspector Wayne Magbanua of LCPO- Station 5, said they arrested Christopher Espinosa, 36; Jif-Jif Cirilo, 21; Jojet Silawan, 22; and Mae Angel Palang, 18.

Forty-one-year-old Jerry Casio, who reportedly owns the drug den, was the main subject of the operation.

Magbanua said the suspects were level 2 drug pushers in the area.

Seized from Casio were five small sachets and a medium pack of suspected shabu amounting to about P6,000, while assorted drug paraphernalia were confiscated from the other suspects.

Meanwhile, a drug pusher was shot in the leg after he resisted arrest in a buy bust operation at Sitio Hawod, Bulacao, Talisay City Sunday afternoon.

His cohort Brigodo Reyes Jr., 28, a resident of Ward, Minglanilla, was also arrested after he reportedly connived with Baldenisa in his illegal drugs trade.

During the operation, Baldenisa immediately ran after noticing the presence of policemen.

A dog, however, proved to be a policeman's good buddy as they were able to find Baldenisa after the dog kept barking in an area, which, the police said, is an indication that there is someone hiding behind.

Instead of surrendering, Baldenisa reportedly draw his firearm and fired at the police team.

In response, Diola shot the suspect in the leg.

Police recovered two packs of suspected shabu, a caliber 357 homemade revolver with four live bullets, an empty shell.

Seized from Reyes' possession were a caliber 22 revolver with four live bullets and 17 packs of shabu.

The suspects are now detained at the station for the filing of charges for violation of Section 5 and 11 Article II of R.A. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and for violation of R.A. 10591 for illegal possession of firearms. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/Christell Fatima M. Tudtud/ Iris Mariani B. Algabre (FREEMAN)