Anti-drug operations also netted 30 others: Kin of “drug lord” Sabalones nabbed for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A relative of alleged “drug lord” Franz Sabalones was arrested in a buy-bust operation by Talisay City police in Sitio Sangi 2,  Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City Thursday evening.

Talisay Police Station chief Superintendent Aileen Recla said Memar Sabalones Sabarita, 34, a resident of the place, was a newly-identified drug personality in the city, whom they subjected to a sting operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7.

She said they immediately arrested Sabarita along with two of his cohorts after he handed a pack of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer and received the two P100 bills in marked money.

Recla said Sabarita himself confirmed he was a relative of Sabalones, allegedly the number 2 drug lord in Central Visayas who surrendered to PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa last August 7.

Recla identified Sabarita's cohorts as Cristitoto Inot, 40, of Sitio Cabangcalan, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City; and Fretchie Sabarita, 32, also a resident of the place. One managed to evade the police during the operation.

The police seized 10 packs of suspected shabu from Sabarita's possession, five small packs from Inot, and six more small packs from Fretchie. Weighing a total of .66 grams, the suspected drugs were estimated to be worth P7,780.

Recla said Sabarita told them he got his illegal drug supply from somebody in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Hours earlier, PDEA-7 agents and Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Group-7 seized at least P360,000 worth of suspected shabu in Sitio Ratan, Barangay Tanke, Talisay City Thursday afternoon.

Public Information Officer Leia G. Albiar said that prior to their operation, they placed Richard Macuto, 35, and Bernilito Padillo under surveillance for two weeks after they received reports that they were allegedly engaged in the illegal drug trade.

Aside from the arrest of Macuto and Padillo during the buy-bust operation, 21 others were also arrested and would be charged for allegedly visiting a drug den.

A total of 34 packs of suspected shabu weighing 100 grams and with an estimated street value of P360,000 were seized from Macuto and Padillo while several drugs paraphernalia were also found during the operation in two alleged drug dens, which the police dismantled.

Albiar said Macuto and Padillo would be facing criminal complaints for violating Sections 5 (selling of dangerous drugs), 6 (maintenance of a drug den), 11 (possession of illegal drugs), and 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

A separate complaint for violation of Section 7 (visiting a drug den) of RA 9165 would also be filed against the 21 others.  Meanwhile, in Lapu-Lapu City, five persons were arrested in a buy-bust operation last Wednesday and Thursday, yielding P37,760 worth of suspected shabu.

Senior Inspector Joey Bicoy, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- City Intelligence Branch deputy chief, said John Ignacio, 37, was arrested around 6:35 p.m. last Thursday in Purok Rosas, Sitio Salvacion, Barangay Looc.

Ignacio yielded suspected shabu worth P1,416 and the P300 marked money, aside from P600 believed to be proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs.

Last Wednesday, Inspector Wayne Magbanua of Pusok Police Police Station arrested Danilo Guevarra, 43; Marsthelo Tolentino, 18; Raiken Entrampas, 39, and Monching Baranggan, 39, in Sitio Firing  Range, Barangay Pusok around 6:30 p.m.

Magbanua said Guevarra, a level 2 drug pusher, was newly-identified as an illegal drugs dealer in the barangay.

Guevarra yielded 71 small sachets of suspected shabu, several plastics with residue believed to be shabu, and P340 in alleged proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Tolentino, on the other hand, allegedly had with him three small sachets of suspected shabu, two more from Entrampas, and one from Baranggan.  Magbanua said the seized drugs have an estimated value of P36,344.

The arrested suspects were detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office pending the filing of charges against them for violating RA 9165. Iris Mariani B. Algabre, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, Mylen P. Manto (FREEMAN)