Drug surrenderer, 2 others nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — Three suspected drug personalities, including a drug surrenderer, were caught by the operatives in a string of anti-illegal drug operations in Cebu City.

Authorities also netted around P100,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Two suspected street-level pushers— Edwin Rama, 47, a resident of Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Calamba, and Tadeo Aratea, 37, a resident of Barangay San Antonio — were arrested for peddling drugs in Barangay Tunghaan yesterday dawn.

Aratea was a drug surrenderer, according to Police Officer 3 Nikki Carlo Plarisan of Minglanilla Police Station.

But Aratea returned to his old ways and peddled illegal drugs anew.

Rama and Aratea were apprehended by the operatives for possessing shabu worth P15,340.

Plarisan said they are yet to determine the suspects’ drug supplier.

In a separate operation, one medium and 23 small sachets of shabu weighing 6.32 grams worth P80,000 were confiscated from Leister “Deboy” Gendrauli, 33, in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Chicago, Barangay Duljo Fatima Friday night.

Gendrauli was placed under surveillance for two weeks prior to the operation, said Police Chief Inspector Randy Caballes, station commander of Mambaling Police station.

The station commander said Gendrauli was a new drug player, operating within the village.

"We received reports from concerned citizens, including those previously arrested drug personalities in the area. We confirmed him (Gendrauli) being involved in illegal drug trade during the surveillance,” he said.

All three suspects are temporarily detained at the town’s police station pending the filing of charges against them for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — CNU Intern Chelsey Gaile B. Lapingcao/KBQ (FREEMAN)