Nearly P1.5M in drugs seized; 5 nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — Close to P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs were sized from five suspects in two different buy-bust operations in Talisay City and Cebu City on Sunday dawn.

Police conducted the first operation in Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City at around 1 a.m. where four suspects were arrested. Confiscated from them were at least P1 million worth of suspected shabu with estimated weight of 185.12 grams.

The suspects were identified as Mark Manuel Daiparine and Justin Aparece, who were both tagged as high-value targets, and Alvin Mercado and Anthony Manilag, who were considered newly identified targets of the police.

Talisay City police personnel hatched the operation after receiving a tip from suspects previously arrested for their alleged participation in the drug trade.

Suspects are now under the custody of the PNP awaiting the filing of formal charges against them.

Two hours later that dawn, another buy-bust operation was conducted in Baranagay Hipodromo, Cebu City that resulted in the arrest of 21-year-old Julie Ann Villegas.

Recovered fron Villegas were 50 grams of suspected shabu with estimated value of P340,000.

Villegas is now detained at the Guadalupe Police Station for proper disposition of charges.

Meanwhile, the confiscated shabu were brought to the PNP Crime laboratory for the examination. (FREEMAN)