Drug busts yield P413T drugs

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated P413,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a series of buy-bust operations conducted Friday morning and evening by the Consolacion police, who also arrested 15 alleged drug personalities, one of them a 14-year old Grade 7 student.

The others arrested were identified as Roel Gaco, 33; Jouquin Casado, 35; Melvin Padilla, 21; Abdon Along, 41; Marry Joy Sagala, 39; Vincent Apas, 20; Marlo Epile, 19; Mary Jane Panugaling, 27; Jose Nepomuceno, 49; Mercenario Rollon, 39; Richard Agujar, 27; Vicpol Daño, 18; and Argane Bobo, 29, and Reggie Pepito, of legal age.

The six separate buy-bust operations were conducted in Barangays Pitogo, Panoypoy, and Pulpogan.

Meanwhile, around P100,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized by the Minglanilla police in a buy-bust operation at Deca Homes Subdivision,  Barangay Calajoan, last Friday evening.

Police also arrested Orlando "Lando" Llena, 41, of the said place; Mae "Mehmeh" Villanueva, 28; and Mary Joy Paca, 27, both residents of A. Lopez Street, Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

According to Superintendent Dexter Calacar, Minglanilla police chief, they received information about Llena through an informant. Operatives carried out surveillance before conducting the operation.

Llena was considered a new drug personality in the town while Paca and Villanueva are his suppliers.

The buy-bust operation was conducted in Llena’s house. Police recovered a small pack and a medium pack of suspected shabu and P950 believed to be drug money.

The drugs weighed 9 grams and was estimated at P106,200.00.

In Barangay Poong, Toledo City, last Friday afternoon, two high-value targets were arrested during a buy-bust operation.

Police arrested Lef Tyron Agraviador, 31, a former tokhang surrenderer and Jayson Timkang, 24, both residents of Barangay Cabitoonan, Toledo City. The suspects were the city's top 2 and top 5 in the drug watch list, respectively.

Seized from Agraviador were five small packs and two medium packs of shabu, a homemade revolver and P3,500 cash, while Timkang yielded two small sachets of shabu.

Report

Talisay City Chief of Police Superintendent Emerson Dante will submit a report to Mayor Eduardo Gullas after confirming information that an area of the Lagtang Public Market was used as drug den by some drug personalities.

This after a series of validation operations confirmed an area occupied by informal settlers was used for illegal drug operations.

It was reported that Gullas wants to convert the market into a technical vocational school. Dante wants the market cleared before the city can establish the said school.

He also said there are two high-value targets in the said area. Police carried out a buy-bust operation against the two but failed to arrest them.

Although the drugs confiscated against the two were less than five grams, Dante explained that it was one of their tactics.

“Hinahati into small packs para bailable ang kaso. Kasi every time nakakuha ng target ini-interrogate tapos sinusuwalat yung source, operasyonan dayon. Walang kilo-kilo sa Talisay na nakuha, mataas ang presyo ng Talisay kasi kakaunti (drug pushers) lang, mura doon (Cebu City) mas mahal sa Talisay,” Dante said.

On Wednesday, one of the targets surrendered to the police.

Indicted

In another development, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted a man for alleged possession of P600,000 worth of shabu.

Prosecutor Ernesto Narido Jr., held Nelson Orillo, of Santa Maria Village, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, for trial after finding probable cause for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. No bail was recommended.

Orillo was arrested last May 15 in Santa Maria Village. — Mylen P. Manto, and Ermida Q. Moradas, Niña Lyka G. Modelo, CNU intern/BRP (FREEMAN)