Cops seize P.5M drugs in raid

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated half a million pesos worth of illegal drugs were seized while three suspects were arrested when the Mandaue City Police Office conducted simultaneous drug raids early morning yesterday  in the different areas in the city.

The simultaneous raids in the houses of three drug personalities were conducted after each was issued with a search warrant signed by RTC Branch 56 Judge Teresita Abarquez-Galanida.

Police operatives, spearheaded by the City Intelligence Branch chief Police Superintendent Josefino Ligan in coordination with Canduman police led by its station chief Rommel Luga, first busted suspect Edmund Atillo, a resident of Sitio Bombil, Barangay Canduman at around 5:55 a.m.

Two big and another two medium packs of suspected shabu with some drug paraphernalia were seized inside the house of the suspect who was immediately brought to the CIB office for interrogation and detention.

CIB operatives then proceeded to house of Eduardo Abellar, 42, of Sitio Bacuston, Baranagay Umapad wherein the police were able to confiscate four medium and 84 small packs of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, as well as paraphernalia inside his residence.

Ligan said the illegal drugs seized from Abellar were estimated to be 25 grams with an estimated street value of P280,000.

Last to fall into the hands of the police was Jose Noel Comiso, 28, single and a resident of Purok 2, Barangay Cubacub, from whom police were able to seize two medium packs of white crystalline substance estimated to be 10 grams with a street value of P110,000.

According to Ligan, Comiso and Atillo are considered level 3 drug pushers while Abellar is a level 2 drug pusher. It was the suspects' first arrests, he added.

All three are currently detained pending the filing of appropriate charges against them.   (FREEMAN)