3 students fall in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines — Three students, including a minor, were arrested during a joint buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and Lapu-Lapu City Police Office in Barangay Pusok last Sunday afternoon.

The suspects were identified as John Peppard Beltran, 21; Mhar Abarri, 21; and their 16-year-old cohort. They are all students of a public high school in Lapu-Lapu City.

Lawmen seized from their possession five plastic packs of shabu worth P2.38 million based on the value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board. The police and PDEA-7 operatives also confiscated P3,000 believed to be proceeds of illegal drugs.

The suspects are now detained at the police stockade while criminal complaints for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 are being readied for filing. The continued proliferation of illegal drugs despite the unabated campaign by the government has saddened Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. The Catholic Church official lauded the police for the biggest drug haul, so far, this year.

The police seized P190 million worth of shabu in a series of operations in Cebu City and Consolacion town last Sunday. Police also arrested Jocelyn Encila and Elymar Ancajas.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-7 director Brigadier General Debold Sinas defended the confiscation of luxury cars, jewelry, and cash from Encila. He said these are pieces of evidence that will strengthen their case against the suspect.

According to Sinas, Encila's possessions do not match her income. Encila is jobless while her parents, Marcial and Marilyn, only sell charcoal, halo-halo, and barbeque.

"Do you have the capacity to own this one? So matingala ka karon maghalo-halo ka lang but you have cars, that is evidence. Wala mi nangmata og trabaho, but dapat ang properties match the income," Sinas said.

He noted that Encila’s house was too much for a jobless person. The house was equipped with CCTV cameras and centralized air conditioning system. Sinas said they will be asking assistance from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLAC) to investigate Encila’s assets.

"We are not going after sa drugs alone we are going after sa fruits para tanan mahadlok. Lisud but

we will try our best," he said.

According to the police, Encila is one of the biggest stockholders of shabu in Cebu. She allegedly gets her supply from Luzon and Mindanao. She supplies drugs to Ancajas.

Sinas said Encila is linked to big time drug player Rustico Ygot who is now serving jail term in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The police believe that it is Ygot that is running the operation remotely through Encila. (FREEMAN)