PDEA nets P329T drugs, arrests 7 persons in raid

CEBU, Philippines — Seven alleged drug personalities, including three high-value targets, were arrested in three separate anti-illegal drug operations, resulting in the confiscation of over P300,000 worth of illegal drugs.

The anti-narcotics operatives seized a total of P329,800 worth of shabu weighing 66 grams in buy-bust operations in Soong II, Barangay Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, Barangay Buhisan in Cebu City, and Barangay Tunghaan in Minglanilla, Cebu.

Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested high value targets Arnel Muñez, Dominador Ycoy, and Lizel Rama.

Muñez, 25, a resident of Soong II, yielded 49 sachets of shabu weighing more or less one gram with an estimated market value of P4,800. In Cebu City, authorities arrested Ycoy, 28, a construction worker, in a buy-bust operation early morning yesterday.

Also arrested were Ycoy’s cohorts; Jannabee Rama, 26, and Dennis Sabella, 29, both are jobless.

Seized from them were four packs of shabu weighing 35 grams worth P175,000.

At 6 a.m. yesterday, operatives also apprehended 28-year-old Lizel, who manages an online business, in Barangay Tunghaan.

Two of her cohorts were also arrested: Lovely Cañares, 21, and Precy Pacure, 40.

Operatives recovered from the suspects four packs of shabu worth P150,000.

PDEA-7 Spokesperson Leia Albiar said arrested drug suspects were placed under surveillance for at least two weeks.

The suspects are temporarily detained inside the PDEA-7 stockade pending the filing of charges.

They will be charged for violating Sections 5 and 11 of the Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) for possession and distribution of illegal drugs.

On the other hand, after stripping the police force of the authority to conduct anti-illegal drug operations, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo vowed to support PDEA-7 in the war on drugs.

“Tulungan natin sila, the PNP will continue working with PDEA para hindi lalaganap pa itong drug problem,” Okubo said.  (FREEMAN)