Woman, 2 minors caught in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - A female level two drug pusher will join her husband behind bars after she was caught in a buy-bust operation in Villagonzalo 2, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City last Monday afternoon.

Jeanette Paslon, 49, wife of Barangay Saksak Pinamungajan Councilman Bienvenido Paslon, who was also arrested in a buy-bust operation in September last year, was caught while trying to flee through an escape door inside her house at around 4:30 p.m. Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, head of the City Intelligence Branch, claimed that since Bienvenido was jailed, Jeanette reportedly took over the illegal drug business in the said barangay.

“She has been in our watchlist for some time. We just received leads on her operation which led to her arrest,” Santander said.   The police placed the suspect under surveillance for two weeks in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - 7.

A poseur buyer arranged to buy a thousand worth of shabu from Jeanette. When the suspect got the marked money, the police immediately swooped in but she managed to run. She was later arrested inside a house.

A sachet and a bulk of shabu were seized from the suspect while seven small sachets were recovered from her house.

Santander said that the Paslon couple heads an “organized group” dealing with the illegal drug trade for a couple of years now. Their operation can reach as far as the southern barangays of the city where they can dispose two bulks of shabu in a day worth P60,000.

Jeanette reportedly sells to taxi drivers, college students and call center agents. She will share the same fate with Bienvenido who is currently inside Cebu City Jail for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002. Last year, Bienvenido was weighing and packing shabu when the police arrested him. Bienvenido was also arrested in 2010 for the same offense.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old alleged drug pusher and his cohort were arrested by the Alegria police in a buy-bust operation Saturday evening in Sitio Looc, Barangay Legaspi, Alegria.

The two were collared by the police right after the transaction was completed. Police seized two small packs of shabu, P2,000 cash and a Yamaha motorcycle from them.

The operation was conducted following information from a concerned citizen. Police said the two suspects were new in the business.

Charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11 of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were filed in court last Monday. — (FREEMAN)