10 persons nabbed for illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines —  Ten persons who yielded at least P200,000 worth of suspected shabu were arrested in a string of anti-illegal drug operations in Cebu City last Friday.

Bulk of the shabu confiscated came from the Mambaling Police Station in an operation led by Chief Inspector Randy Caballes at Sitio Bohol Village, Barangay Duljo Fatima past 7 p.m. last Friday.

The police arrested Feliciana Baritos Sermillo, 54, a resident of the said barangay and a native of San Fernando town, and Charlito Cajes Lopez, 38, from the same barangay.

Caballes said that the names of the suspects arrested propped in several anti-illegal drug operations before. This resulted for them to track and conduct surveillance operations against the two.

After two weeks of casing and surveillance, a buy-bust operation took place.

A police posed as a buyer and bought drugs from the suspect. Upon consummation, suspects were accosted and brought to the police station for proper booking procedures.

The evidence recovered include 30 small and two medium packets of suspected shabu weighing 11.74 grams valued at P138,532.

Prior to this operation, the Cebu City Drug Enforcement Unit also arrested a newly-identified drug personality Paulino Campanilla Labolabo Jr., alias Junex, 44, in Sitio Mantianitas Barangay Duljo Fatima.

Confiscated from Labolabo were a small and a medium-sized packets of suspected shabu, weighing 5.14 grams worth P60,652, and various illegal drug paraphernalia.

In other operations, the operatives of the Guadalupe Police Station arrested seven individuals for their involvement in illegal drugs at Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Suspects arrested were Eduardo “Bonyok” Espayos, 54; Warmes Ubod, 45; John William Espinosa, 51; Rey Lawas, 44; Albert Martinez, 33; Rolly Gimena, 37; John Levado,31, all are residents of the same barangay.

The group yielded 11 transparent ampules and three plastic syringe containing nubain.

Charged

Meanwhile, for allegedly selling and in possession of shabu, a 26-year-old man is facing charges before the court.

Marc Alger Romarate, a resident of Tres de Abril St., Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, was arrested in a buy-bust operation on October 27, where the police also recover P3.8 million worth of shabu from him.

Prosecutor II Benison Harayo indicted Romarate for Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act after finding probable cause.

In an inquest proceeding, Romarate chose not to undergo further investigation to answer the allegations filed against him before the city prosecutor's office.

Because of that, the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office elevated the cases before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City. No bail was recommended for Romarate’s temporary liberty.

In their affidavit of arrest, the members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Cebu City Police Station 7 said prior to the operation, they received information from a concerned citizen that the new occupant of a room-for-rent in their place in Poblacion, Pardo was allegedly engaged in the illegal drug trade.

The informant alleged he previously knew Romarate to be living in Tres de Abril Street.

The informant added that he saw Romarate selling shabu few meters away from his rented room and has done the same only after past midnight to avoid detection.

The same source said his friends told him that they bought shabu from Romarate because of the good quality and quantity of the shabu he allegedly sold.

Using a P2,000 buy-bust money, the Pardo police conducted the operation at around 4:20 a.m. — GAN (FREEMAN)