Bohol police seize P2.3M shabu, arrest suspected pusher at resort

PANGLAO ISLAND, BOHOL, Philippines — Police operatives arrested what authorities have tagged as a big-time drug trader in Bohol province and seized from him P2.3 million worth of "shabu" during a buy-bust operation laid out at a posh resort in the tourist-favorite island of Panglao in Bohol.

The unmarried suspect, 38-year-old Teofilo Omalsa Bantugan, had been renting a room at Muro-Ami Beach Resort located in Barangay Doljo, Panglao town, for the last four days until police nabbed him at around 10:35 p.m. Monday.

This occurred after a poseur buyer lured Bantugan to a successful drug transaction, according to Senior Inspector Jojit Mananquil, head of the police raiding team.

Aside from the seized three packs of shabu, which have a street value of at least P2.3 million, police also seized a 9mm caliber handgun and some drug paraphernalia from Bantugan, a resident of Barangay Ubujan, Tagbilaran City.

Mananquil told The Freeman that Bantugan is an elusive drug trader conducting illegal activities mostly indoors, normally at rented apartment buildings and at hotel or resort rooms.

"You don't see him on the street," Mananquil said of the suspect. "He changes his location every now and then."

Mananquil said they got wind of Bantugan's clandestine operation after the resort management reported to authorities about the unusual movement of resort visitors going in and out of the room where the suspect was checking in.

Mananquil's anti-drug team was composed of police operatives from the Camp Dagohoy-based Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), Panglao Police Station, and Bohol Police Tourist Unit. (FREEMAN)