Eleven caught in anti-drug ops

CEBU, Philippines – Eleven suspected drug personalities, three of whom were allegedly connected to level 2 drug pushers caught in Minglanilla town last week, were arrested in separate police operations yesterday.

One suspect was Hilario “Totyong” Ocariza, 51, of Barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla, who was arrested after transacting with a police poseur buyer.

Superintendent Dexter Calacar, Minglanilla police chief, said Ocariza was new in the illegal drugs trade but he was connected with Sonny Boy Solis Alivio and Marjun “Dingdong”  Maghanin  who were arrested by Minglanilla police last week and yielded around P1 million worth of suspected shabu.

Calacar said Ocariza was placed under surveillance for a week before they conducted the buy-bust. Ocariza yielded a small rectangular green plastic container with suspected shabu inside and P250 cash.

Minutes later, Minglanilla police proceeded to Barangay Poblacion Ward 4, Minglanilla and arrested Arnold “Anod” Reroma, 31, Tulay, Minglanilla, and Jerome Ababon, 46, of Ward 4, Minglanilla.

The two, who were allegedly connected with Ocariza, had with them three small packs of suspected shabu and P250 cash, which was believed to be proceeds of their illegal drugs transactions.

Ocariza, Reroma, and Ababon are currently detained at the Minglanilla Police Station.

In Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, six persons, including three women, were also arrested in a drug operation early morning yesterday.

The police identified the suspects as Arnulfo Miel, 32, from Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City; Jerome Gonzaga, 28, from Alaska, Mambaling, Cebu City; Romy Ramas, 31, from Ermita, Cebu City; Liezl Saraum, 23, from Cogon Pardo,Cebu City; and Jahara Peromingan, 22, from Cansojog, Talisay City; and Argesa Pegarido, 29, of Maria Gochan Street, Mambaling

Senior Police Officer 2 Michael Limalima of Subangdaku Police Station said they had been monitoring the movements of Miel for some time as he was identified to have been involved in the illegal drugs trade.

They conducted a buy-bust operation led by Chief Inspector Genilo Masbate Veraque on him around 3 a.m. yesterday when they received information that he was selling drugs in Mt. Banahaw Street, Tipolo.

Miel was handcuffed after he handed a pack of suspected shabu to the buyer. The other suspects were arrested as they were present during the buy-bust operation.

Limalima said Saraum, Peromingan, and Pegarido alleged that they were just looking for Miel when the police conducted the operation.

The police, though, said they confiscated from Miel a small pack of suspected shabu; a medium pack of suspected shabu from Gonzaga; two heat-sealed plastic pack contained suspected shabu; while Saraum, Peromingan, and Pegarido each yielded a piece of tinfoil, disposable lighter, while Peromingan also had with her an improvized tooter, which are all considered as drug paraphernalia.

Aside from the pack of suspected shabu, Miel also yielded a KG9 semi-automatic pistol, a weighing scale, and a butane canister.

The six are now temporarily detained at Subangdaku Police Station pending filing of appropriate charges against them.

In Sitio Ughay, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City, policemen responding to a robbery incident arrested two persons whom they allegedly chanced upon Jeson Corbeta, 31, of San Roque, and Jokris Bayadas, 27, of Barangay Japitan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental about to have a pot session.

Corbeta and Bayadas yielded a pack of suspected shabu, tinfoil, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Senior Police Officer 2 Cecilio Miñoza of Talisay City Police Station said personnel went to San Roque yesterday dawn to respond to a robbery incident in the house of Clarissa Abay, 43.

While there, however, the policemen saw the suspects in possession of the seized items. —/RHM (FREEMAN)