7 nabbed in separate drug busts

CEBU, Philippines — Seven people, including a high-value target and a taxi driver, were arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay over the weekend resulting in the seizure of over P1 million worth of shabu.

The drug bust led by Chief Inspector Clark Ariola of Punta Princesa Police Station yesterday dawn resulted in the arrest of Jefford Secuya Tabanas, 19, resident of Sitio Purok Tres, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City and four others whom police identified as John Ryan Saballa, 18; GIan Michael Del Rosario Atim; Elvin Caburnay Codinera; and Rosendo Manago Daclan.

According to Ariola, Saballa worked as runner for Tabanas while the others were their customers.

The police seized 15 medium and five small packs of suspected shabu from Tabanas with a total estimated value of P649,000 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board value. The four other suspects were also yielded several sachets bringing the total value of drugs seized during the operation to P800,000.

Ariola said Tabanas is considered high-value target based on the amount of drugs confiscated from him. The police believe that Tabanas may have started out as drug runner and eventually got into selling.

“Daghan na man gud sa kabatan-unan nga maaresto nakit-an nila sa mga karaan nga dali ra ang kwarta, gara kaayo daghan kaayo butang, mao posibilidad, mao rason nisud sila bisan bata pa,” he said.

The suspects are now temporarily detained at Punta Princesa Police Station pending the filing of charges for violation of Section 5, 11, and 12 of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, taxi driver Noel Navarro Reyes, 42, was arrested during a buy-bust operation Saturday dawn in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City.

Reyes, resident of A. Lopez, Cebu City, was caught selling a pack of shabu to a police decoy. Seized from him were two packs of shabu with an estimated value of P26,550.

City Drug Enforcement Unit head Chief Insp. Jaime Tolentino said they also recovered from the suspect the P500 buy-bust money.

Reyes is now detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office while drug charges are being prepared for filing against him.

In Talisay City, Jesarf Cantol Repe was also arrested yesterday with P350,000 worth of drugs  during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Cebu Provincial Police Office in Barangay Lawaan. (FREEMAN)