Two nabbed in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested two men in separate buy-bust operations in the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu last Tuesday, seizing suspected illegal drugs worth P207,680.

Three months after he was released from jail, Homer Rivera Abellana, 20, was arrested again by operatives around 9 p.m. in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City.

Chief Inspector Christopher Navida, head of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO)-City Intelligence Branch (CIB) and City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), said they confiscated eight grams of suspected shabu that has an estimated value of P94,400.

Navida said Abellana was arrested in September 2013 for peddling illegal drugs and was released from jail last January.

Abellana is now detained at the CCPO and complaints for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 under Sections 5 and 11 (selling and possession of illegal drugs) will be filed against the suspect.

Meanwhile, a 43-year-old man was arrested by policemen in Purok Gumamela, Barangay Looc in Lapu-Lapu City around 3 p.m. on the same day.

Senior Inspector Joey Bicoy, Deputy Chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO)-CIB and CDEU, in coordination with Senior Inspector Felix Cleopas of LCPO-Station 3, arrested Melvin Cabalhug Suliano, a resident of the area.

At least 24 small sachets of shabu that weighed 9.6 grams were seized from Suliano, as well P600 believed to be proceeds of his illegal activity.

Bicoy said the confiscated shabu has an estimated value of P113,280.

Suliano is now jailed at the LCPO Holding Cell and will be facing a criminal complaint for violating RA 9165 (selling and possession of shabu), Bicoy said.

None of the suspects resisted arrest during the operations. (FREEMAN)