‘Narco’ cop henchman, 8 others fall

CEBU, Philippines – Nine drug suspects, including the alleged henchman of a slain “narco” policeman, were arrested and close to P230,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate buy-bust operations in San Fernando town and the cities of Carcar and San Fernando over the weekend.

Michael Saraum, 35, a resident of Barangay Zaragosa in Aloguinsan, Cebu, is reportedly a trusted henchman of suspected drug protector Police Officer 3 Ryan Quiamco, who was killed in a police operation last week in Talisay City.

Quiamco was included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of alleged drug protectors in Cebu City. The cop was formerly with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team at the Cebu Provincial Police Office. He was relieved from his post in August 2016 when Duterte named him as being involved in illegal drugs.

Saraum, a “mountain level pusher,” was arrested during a buy-bust operation Saturday afternoon in Sitio Danao, Barangay Valencia in Carcar City.

Seized from his possession were seven small packs of suspected shabu worth P3,304; and cash worth P650 believed to be proceeds from their illegal drug trade and P200 marked money.

Chief Inspector Jose Liddawa, chief of Carcar City police, said Saraum has been peddling drugs for quite some time.

A high-value target was also arrested yesterday morning in Sitio Sombria, Barangay Lawaan 1, Talisay City.

Dendo Carcellar Cabanero, 34, a resident of the said place, was placed under surveillance for several months after intelligence reports tagged him as a high-value target, according to Talisay City Police Station Chief Superintendent Emerson Dante.

"Kasama sa listahan natin yan at dumaan sa intel monitoring matagal na. Kanina (yesterday) lang na tsambahan ng operatives natin kasi moving sila para di agad mahuli. May nag timbre sa atin na nasa area siya kaya na ikasa kaagad yung buy-bust at nag-positive," Dante told The FREEMAN in text message.

Recovered from Cabanero were eight small and three medium packs of suspected shabu worth P118,000.

More than two hours after the arrest of Cabanero at 9:20 a.m., the operatives also arrested a father and his son in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Kamagayan, Brgy. Perrelos in Carcar City.

Arrested were Mario Laputan Sr., 54, and his 33-year-old son, Mario Laputan Jr., both residents of the said place.

According to Liddawa, the Laputans are newly-identified drug personalities in the area.

In a separate anti-illegal operation Saturday afternoon in Sitio Magay, Barangay Tanke, Talisay, police arrested Manfred Tayco,30, and Ronnel Abapo, 31, both residents of said place, and Christopher Cabardo, 20, a resident of Barangay San Roque, for possession of illegal drugs worth P8,976.

Angelito Fernandez,36, was also arrested in Sitio Galaxy, Barangay Tangke. Recovered from him were nine small and one medium packs of suspected shabu worth P88,500.

In Sitio Magtalisay,Barangay Balud, San Fernando, a street level pusher, 22-year-old John Paul Basmayor 22 was also arrested. (FREEMAN)