Buy-bust nets lupon, female drug peddler

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested at least 16 persons, including a female suspected drug peddler and a barangay worker, in separate anti-illegal drug operations recently in the metro.

In Cebu City, police swooped down on suspected drug pusher Marco Villanueva and a certain Edwin Juab during a buy-bust operation past 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Sitio Kawit, Barangay Ermita.

Villanueva, the subject of the operation, was collared by elements of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-7 when he transacted with a police poseur-buyer.

Juab, meanwhile, was picked up after yielding sachet of drugs during a search.

At around 4:30 p.m. that day, the poseur-buyer bought a sachet of shabu from Villanueva worth P200. When Villanueva handed over the item to the officer, the latter placed him under arrest and instructed all the persons around the area to drop to the ground and make no move.

RAIDSOTG-7 held at least 21 persons present in the area but arrested only the two after it verified that the rest were not engaged in the illegal drugs business.

Police recovered at least 40 small sachets, including that Villanueva handed to the poseur-buyer. Another sachet was seized from Juab.

All confiscated items were brought to the RAIDSOTG-7 office for the filing of criminal charges against the suspects for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Danao City

Meanwhile, a female suspected drug pusher identified as Mildred Tapayan was arrested by the police in another buy-bust past 3 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Poblacion, Danao City.

Tapayan, 45, was handcuffed after she sold a pack of suspected shabu to an operative.

The operation was carried out after the police have learned of Tapayan’s illegal activity and validated it through surveillance and test buy.

During the bust, she allegedly sold a pack of shabu to a poseur-buyer which ultimately led to her arrest.

When frisked by a female police officer, Tapayan yielded at least 10 sachets of suspected shabu; the P200 buy-bust money and P900 cash.

She was then immediately brought to the station where she was detained pending the filing of drug charges against her.

In Barangay Tuburan Sur, same city, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 yesterday implemented a search warrant against an alleged drug pusher, Jen-jen Buot.

Superintendent Fermin Armendares, deputy chief of CIDG-7, said the warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras.

Buot was not around during the implementation of the search warrant but her brother, Jaddy, was arrested after yielding a sachet of suspected shabu, some ammunition and drug paraphernalia.

Inside Jen-jen’s room, police were also able to recover two big packs and 15 medium packs of suspected illegal drugs. All suspected illegal drugs weighed at least P30 grams or amounted to P354,000, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board value.

Arrested with Jaddy were Alberto Capul, 47, and Jessie Vasquez, 23, who yielded firearms but could not provide proof of ownership.

Armendares said Jen-jen was a former live-in partner of William Jasmin, an alleged drug peddler arrested in 2001 and eventually released after serving his sentence. Years after, however, Jasmin was killed after his “business ties” with another peddler went sour.

Jen-jen’s house had already been raided by the Provincial Intelligence Branch years ago but the subject was also able to elude arrest.

Hours after, another alleged drug peddler, Elmer Pilapil, was also arrested in a buy-bust in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion which led to the confiscation of 10 small sachets of drugs.

A certain Wellie was supposed to be the target of the operation but it was Pilapil, the alleged errand boy of the subject, who appeared during the transaction.

CIDG-7 detained the four arrested suspects.

Lapu-Lapu  City

On Tuesday night, anti-illegal drug operatives also raided a drug den at a community recreation center in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

Eight persons were arrested, including Modesto Del Mar, 43, and Alvin Griar, 33. The two allegedly transacted with a policeman who posed as a customer.

Also arrested were Marvin Del Mar, 29; Alex Gonzales, 45; Antonio Artis, 29, of Deca Homes 3; Salmero Cañedo, 36, of Sitio San Isidro; Eric Sepucado, 38, of Sitio San Vicente and Ronel Branzuela of Borbon town, Cebu.

Marvin, Gonzales, Artis, Cañedo and Sepucado are neighbors in Barangay Basak.

Gonzales reportedly works as a "lupon" or member of the pacification committee of the barangay.

Police Senior Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of  Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-City Intelligence Branch, said Modesto was the main subject of their operation.

Marvin and Modesto are brothers, Sucalit added.

Some 13 small sachets and a medium pack of suspected shabu were confiscated from Modesto. On top of these, he also yielded alleged drug proceeds worth P700, the P200 police marked money, a .22 caliber revolver with live ammunition rounds and some drug paraphernalia.

Another four small sachets of suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia were seized from Marvin.

Sucalit said the seized shabu had an estimated value of P71,744.

Police also apprehended seven motorcycle units from Griar, who was unable to show necessary documents for the vehicles. The motorcycles are now under the custody of LCPO and will serve as evidence against the suspects.

Sucalit said the other suspects were picked up after they were caught staying at the drug den.

All arrested persons are now jailed at LCPO and will face appropriate drug charges.

Modesto will be also charged with a separate complaint under Republic Act 10951 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition Act.  (FREEMAN)