Couple arrested; P170T worth of drugs seized

CEBU, Philippines - At least P177,000 worth of suspected shabu was confiscated from a couple during a buy-bust operation along General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City Thursday morning.

Jeffrel Bartido alias “Jay”, 26, was arrested by the Cebu City Intelligence Branch (CIB) after he handed over a medium pack of suspected shabu to the police poseur-buyer in exchange for P500.

Bartido’s live-in partner, Glyn Torregosa, 19, was also arrested by the police after a pack of suspected shabu was caught in her possession.

Inspector Gomersendo Mandawe, deputy chief of CIB, said after receiving information about Bartido’s reported illegal drug activity, they immediately placed him under surveillance for a week before conducting the buy-bust operation.

Mandawe said Bartido and Torregosa would transfer from one place to another when they sense that they are being observed by authorities.

Two medium packs of suspected shabu were seized from Bartido.

All drugs confiscated from the two weighed at least 15 grams with an estimated amount of P177,000, based on the Dangerous Drugs Board value.

Mandawe said Bartido is a level three drug pusher who can dispose of at least 250 grams of illegal drugs every week. Police said Bartido has been engaged in the illegal activity for a year now.

Both Bartido and Torregosa will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.

Pasil operation

Meanwhile, a suspected drug pusher and his alleged cohort were arrested by the agents of Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 who served a search warrant yesterday afternoon along Magsaysay Street, Lawis, Pasil, Cebu City.

Alfie Oyao, 32, was arrested by the PDEA agents after they initially conducted a buy-bust operation against him past 3 p.m. yesterday.

Jhoniel Canoy, 25, Oyao’s alleged cohort, ran to escape from the PDEA agents but was cornered and arrested.

Apple Oyao, the other subject of the search warrant, was not around the house when the PDEA agents implemented the search warrant.

Past 3 p.m., PDEA agents transacted with Alfie and asked him for a medium pack of suspected shabu worth P7,000 and agreed to meet with him in front of a convenience store in Pasil.

Alfie arrived with Canoy and took the money from the poseur-buyer. He then handed over the medium pack of suspected shabu.

Right after the transaction, the PDEA agents placed him under arrest and Canoy was arrested after the authorities chased him.

They then implemented the search warrant issued by Judge Wilfredo Navarro at the house of the suspect.

PDEA agents searched Apple’s room on the second floor where they confiscated a large pack of shabu reported to be at least 20 grams.

Wardley Getalla, Assistant Regional Director of PDEA7, said they received information that the Oyao brothers were maintaining a drug den and were selling drugs.

Alfie admitted to selling shabu but said he was surprised that there was a large pack of shabu on top of the altar inside his brother’s room. The PDEA agents did not get anything inside Alfie’s room.

Canoy said in an interview said that he has nothing to do with the Oyaos and was just passing by to buy something at the convenience store.

He added that he was afraid when he was asked not to move so he ran away but was arrested instead.

Alfie will be charged for violation of sections 5, 11, 12 or the sale, possession of illegal drugs, and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and will likely face another charge for maintaining a drug den, according to the PDEA-7.

His brother will be facing charges for illegal drug possession and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and maintaining a drug den while PDEA-7 will be studying what charges will be filed against Canoy.  — Bryner L. Diaz and Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/ATO(FREEMAN)