PDEA-6 drug bust P.5-M shabu seized, 12 suspects nabbed

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — An estimated P500,000 worth of shabu was seized in two anti-narcotics operations on Wednesday at Jaro district in Iloilo City where operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 6 also arrested 12 suspects.

PDEA-6 assistant regional director Thessa Albaño said that the suspects were caught at areas considered as drug dens. The first operation took place around 2 p.m. at Barangay Seminario in Burgos M. Jalandoni, she said.

Albaño said the operation's targets were Maribel Hulleza and her common-law husband, Julmar Taub-both suspected drug den maintainers. During the operation, PDEA agents also arrested four more suspects: Hernani Tipayan, Reynaldo Cavintoy, Robert Alipat, and Edwardo Pinida.

Albaño said the six were caught while having a shabu session. The four "visitors" could also be acting as drug runners, she added. Three sachets of shabu-weighing 52 grams with a street value of between P260,000 and P400,000-and a .45-caliber pistol were confiscated from the suspects.

Charges for violation of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15, of Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) will be filed against the suspects, said PDEA-6, adding that a case for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) will also be charged on one of them, after determination of who will be liable for the crime.

The second drug bust was conducted at 8 p.m. that same day, at Barangay Sambag where PDEA operatives also arrested the suspected drug den operator, Christian Bryan Delumen.

Also arrested, while having a shabu session, were Raymond Savilla, Frediery Monsale, Jude Limuel Gasataya, Denisa Continente and Naomi Clarice Domingo-with ages ranging from 19 to 25 (except for Savilla)."They appeared to have come from middle-income or well-off families," Albaño noted.

Recovered from the place were four sachets of shabu-weighing around 30 grams with a street value of between P150,000 and P270,000-were seized from the suspects, who are now facing illegal drugs charges also.

Albaño said the two operations were carried out after about a month of surveillance operations. "We are gaining headway and more operations are to be expected," she vowed. (FREEMAN)