P6M worth of shabu seized in buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines — A total of P3.5 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation Saturday evening in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, just in time for President Duterte’s arrival.

Meanwhile, other separate buy-bust operations over the weekend yielded close to another P3 million worth of suspected shabu.

Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) Chief Glenn Mayam identified the suspect as Aljun Chavez, a resident of Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City, who is said to be a member of an illegal drugs syndicate.

Chavez is allegedly a high-value target based on the volume of drugs he can allegedly dispose weekly.  Mayam said he does not sell in small amounts.

“Kaya nila magbaligya og one kilo per week, kay among (nakuha) is 300 grams. Kaya gud nila mag-produce og 300 grams, one day ra to,” he added.

Mayam said their group sells the suspected shabu in the different places in the region.

When they knew of Chavez through a previous arrest of a drug personality who was also in the same group with the said suspect, the DEG operatives conducted the buy-bust operation after placing him under surveillance for two months.

Meanwhile, almost P1 million worth of suspected shabu was seized by the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Danao Police station in a series of drug bust operations in Barangays Poblacion, Suba, Guinsay and Looc over the weekend.

The police arrested 17 alleged drug personalities during these operations.

Police Officer 3 Phil Restauro of the Danao DEU identified the arrested individuals as Christian Mae Formentera, Aiza Dumasig, Julierez Montalban, Val Lofranco, Aljer Montalvo, Vanisa Bohol, Nowelyn Maturan, Leezan Mae Lom-oc, Rosjean Legaspi, Jonalyn Asister, and Marlon Padilla, all of legal age.

Restauro said that all the arrested drug suspects are newly-identified in Danao City, including the 20-year-old Formentera who yielded more than 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P592,360.

"Mga bag-ong sulbong ni sila nga mamaligyaay diri sa lugar nga dali kaayo nidako. Actually, kaning uban nga nadakpan mga downlines na ni sila ni Formentera. Maong among naka-negotiate si Formentera tungod sa iyang downlines nga amo nang nadakpan," said Restauro.

In the investigation, Formentera reportedly told the police that she got her supply in Cebu City and that her boss was scheduled to deliver another 50 grams of suspected shabu to her, but this did not happen because she was already arrested.

Also recovered from the other suspects were a total of 51 small and one large packs of suspected shabu worth P332,170.

The operatives also arrested alleged drug users identified as Ronel Denoy, Wilmar Maningo, Jack Rosal, Jomar Miaga, Judito Presillas, and Edwin Tejada.

Meanwhile, in a separate drug bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7, about P700,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized from three alleged drug personalities in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City  Saturday afternoon.

The arrested drug personalities were identified as Resel Basilla, 43, Roland Ramas, 39, and Jayson Royo, 27, all are residents of Barangay Labangon.

PDEA-7 Spokesperson Leia Albiar said that Basilla, who was the subject of the operation, yielded seven large packs of suspected shabu worth P680,000.

Meanwhile, almost P170,000 worth of suspected shabu were seized from six drug personalities in a continuous buy-bust operation in Barangay San Isidro and Tangke, Talisay City.

In Barangay San Isidro, the operatives arrested Mario Cabo, 61, and his sons Edmar, 34, and Larry, 39, at their residence for alleged drug possession.

Seized from the suspects were four medium and 33 small packs of suspected shabu weighing 21.5 grams and worth P155,000.

“Two weeks yung investigation (prior to the operation)…from consolidated reports noon at saka may mga bago na ding mga reports,” Talisay Police Chief Marlu Conag said in a phone interview with The FREEMAN.

On the same day, the operatives also arrested three more suspects in a separate buy-bust operation in Barangay Tangke, Talisay.

Arrested were Armando Daan, 39, Rich Oca, 19, and Carlo Paculaba, 19, for alleged drug possession.

Another suspect, Justin Mabala, of legal age and a resident of the said barangay, eluded arrest.

Confiscated from them were 24 small packs of suspected shabu weighing 2.2 grams worth P12,000.

Conag added that the six arrested personalities all have connections with each other, making the collective buy-bust operation on the same day.

Meanwhile, more than P11,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized during a buy-bust operation at the Quijano Compound in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City Saturday morning.

Operatives confiscated 13 small packs of suspected shabu from Aybin Nabua, 30, during the buy-bust operation.

Seized from him were suspected shabu weighing 0.96 grams worth P11,328. – Patricia Faith T. Santillan, STC Intern, Shaira Nicole M. Ymbong, STC Intern, Chelsey Gaile B. Lapingcao, CNU Intern (FREEMAN)