Buy-bust operation in Labangon 2 women caught with P3M drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Two women were arrested with 300 grams of shabu worth P3 million during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City Tuesday night.

Teresa “Inday” Bulambao, 40, and Crestita Montebon, 48, were arrested barely two days after a woman and her daughter were arrested after claiming a parcel that contained a kilo of shabu with an estimated value of P8 million.

SPO4 Dodong Tano of the Regional Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, the leader of the buy-bust team, said they conducted surveillance on Bulambao and Montebon since April. They reportedly did not resist arrest after policemen swooped in on them when they handed a pack of shabu to the poseur-buyer.

“Wala misukol kay mga babaye man,” Tano said.

Recovered from the two women were packs of suspected shabu in different sizes – a packet, three medium packs, and three large packs, all heat-sealed.

Tano said the suspects reportedly revealed that the substance comes from Muntinlupa City, incidentally the same place where the parcel that contained the P8 million worth of shabu originated.

Bulambao and Montebon can reportedly dispose of one kilo of shabu per week and have operated in Metro Cebu.

The two women are facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Charges filed

Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 has also filed charges against the woman and her daughter arrested Monday.

Editha Paul, 58, and her daughter, Maricris Paul, 32, are facing charges for conspiracy to transport dangerous drugs.

The case against the two was forwarded straight to court after they chose not to answer the complaint at the prosecutor’s level. No bail was recommended.

Prior to the arrest, PDEA-7 was reportedly informed by the PDEA National Capital Region about the shipment from Barangay Alabang in Muntinlupa City. PDEA-7 Regional Director Espirideon Javier then ordered his men to verify the information and coordinate with the courier.

The parcel contained 10 pairs of rubber sandals with 50 grams of shabu hidden in each sandal.

Editha denied any knowledge of shabu claiming she was only asked to claim the parcel. In fact, she said, she brought her daughter along with her because she does not know how to use a mobile phone where the tracking number of the parcel was sent.

Editha denied any knowledge who her contact is and to whom she was to give the parcel after claiming it.

With the arrest of the four women, Tano said it is possible that drug syndicates are using the same as strategy. “Mga babaye ilang gigamit para dili kaayo dali mailhan,” he said. — With Samuelle Joyrin C. Caing (FREEMAN)