8 nabbed for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Eight locals in four Lapu-Lapu City barangays who have been tagged in illegal drug trade were arrested by the police's anti-illegal drug group.

In a recent press conference, Police Chief Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, officer-in-charge of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said simultaneous buy-bust operations of Cebu Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group were carried out from October 20 to 22.

Rico Cuizon, 38, a resident of Barangay Ibo, was arrested by the police around 7:30 Tuesday night, where he was said to yield one small pack of suspected shabu while Vecente Malinao, 45, who lives in Purok Five Star in Barangay Babag, was arrested with 10 small packs of the same substance in his possession.

During Malinao's arrest on Wednesday dawn, the marked money of P200 was also retrieved by the police.

In Barangay Maribago, Jonathan Tampus, 43, yielded two small packs of suspected shabu when police arrested him.  Albert Tapao, 26, and Mark Anthony Gonzales, 31, who had small packs each, were also arrested Tuesday evening.  The P150 marked money was recovered during the operation.

Three other drug suspects were also arrested in Sitio Kagudoy, Barangay Basak around 11:55 p.m. on Monday. They were identified as Ramilito Amodia, Rolly Origenes and Bernie Batusin, all are residents of the mentioned barangay.

Fives small packs of suspected shabu were seized from them, together with a caliber .357 firearm with no serial number and six pieces of live ammunition.

The suspects are temporarily detained at Lapu-Lapu City Police Office detention cell and will face criminal charges before the court for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)