In Talisay, Cebu, Danao, Consolacion busts: 15 nabbed, P2M drugs seized, cop faces probe

CEBU, Philippines - Fifteen were arrested and over P2 million worth of drugs was seized while a police officer faces investigation following a series of buy-bust operations conducted in the cities of Talisay, Cebu and Danao, and in Consolacion town.

A police officer from Talisay City has been relieved from his post after his brother was arrested in a buy-bust operation last Saturday.

In the operation conducted by the operatives of Regional Drug Enforcement Unit in Central Visayas (RDEU) -7, arrested were Dennis Diola also known as “Kano”, 48, and Manilyn Arquillano, 22.

Diola's brother Senior Police Officer 2 Jeffrey Diola, a team leader For Theft and Robbery Section and Drug Enforcement Unit of Talisay City Police Station, was relieved from his post and will be transferred to the Personnel Holding Accounting Unit for investigation.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Eric Noble gave Diola's relieve order after receiving news of Dennis’ arrest.

Noble told reporters yesterday that despite knowing about his younger brother’s illegal drug business, PO2 Diola failed to report this to authorities, which was against police protocol.

Diola is No. 3 on the list of Central Visayas' high-value targets, while Arquillano, his common law wife, is No. 6. Confiscated from the two were two big packs of shabu with an estimated weight of 10 grams worth P27,000.

Also in Talisay City, police operatives who were conducting a follow-up on a robbery alarm in Sitio Burlas, Barangay Lagtang arrested an alleged drug peddler who was caught in plain view selling illegal drugs, Sunday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as Al Antonio Dela Cerna, 37. Recovered from Dela Cerna were 12 packs of suspected shabu estimated Dangerous Drug Board value of P141,000.

In another buy-bust operation in Cebu City, Nieva Abella Pocdol alias “Embing”, 50, was arrested and a total of 400 grams valued at P1.4 million was seized in Sitio Lawis Phantom, Barangay Lorega San Miguel Sunday around 11:40 p.m.

According to Chief Inspector Christopher Navida, chief of City Intelligence Branch, Pocdol is part of an emerging drug group in Cebu, which is still under close watch.

In Cebu City, operatives from the Cebu City Police Office - City Intelligence Branch conducted a buy-bust operation around 12:55 a.m. yesterday at a subdivision in Barangay Tisa. Operatives seized 40.16 grams of suspected shabu worth P140,560.

One of the arrested was Rex Carilles Labadan, alias “Bayi”, 38 who is allegedly linked to a drug personality detained at the Cebu City Jail.

Joselito Delfin Arellano, alias “Otik” who was allegedly known as a trusted aid of slain drug lord, Jeffrey ‘Jaguar” Diaz, was also arrested by virtue of a warrant for Robbery with Violation or Intimidation.

In Danao City, over P600,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in five separate buy-bust operations with six alleged drug personalities arrested.

Arrested were Gloria Saturos, 53, a resident of Tuburan Sur; Ralph Loberanes, 25; a resident of Juan Luna Extension, Barangay Poblacion; Pastor Mansueto, 45, a resident of Barangay Looc; Danilo Mondoc, 25 and Gerardo Gonzaga Jr., 35, both residents of El Cantorio, Barangay Looc; and Niño Jay Mangas, 24, a resident of F. Ralota St., Barangay Poblacion.

Police Chief Inspector Gerard Ace Pelare, Danao City police chief identified Mangas as among the names on their drug watchlist.

Pelare added that the suspects had been under surveillance for a month before the operations were conducted.

Saturos yielded P236, 831 worth of suspected shabu while P127, 912 worth of shabu was seized from Loberanes.

More than 10 grams of suspected shabu worth P119,415 were confiscated from Mansueto and the operation against Mondoc and Gerardo yielded P180,304 worth of suspected shabu.

Pelare said that they won’t stop running after street level drug pushers despite a significant decline in drugs seized.

 In Consolacion town, three were arrested and an estimated P76,700 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion Occidental around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Police arrested Melvin Capangpangan Semblante, 38; Christopher Intaligando Lacio, 29; and Samuel Capangpangan Semblante, 24, Melvin's younger brother.

 The Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU) personnel of Consolacion Police Station conducted the buy-bust operation in coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7).

Melvin Semblante was the subject of the operation but it was Lacio who transacted with the police poseur-buyer.

Samuel Semblante was arrested when police spotted him at a nearby makeshift shed about to engage in a drug session. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila, Ermida Q. Moradas, and Robee Ryan T. Isabelo (FREEMAN)