Eight arrested, 2 girls rescued in buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines — Eight individuals were arrested and two minor girls were rescued in different drug operations yesterday morning in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Those arrested later said their drugs came from people inside the New Bilibid Prisons.

At around 11:05 a.m., operatives led by Police Captain Nazarino Emia, deputy chief of the Talisay City Police Station, raided a lodge in Sitio Sangi 1, Barangay Tabunok, after their poseur-buyer successfully transacted for drugs with Warren Reyes Lastimosa, 34, a resident of the place.

Lastimosa’s accomplices identified as Jerome Cabardo Panogan, 39; Marjun Segundino Barago, 31, and two minor girls aged 16 and 13 were also arrested.

Police operatives seized 10 small triangular sachets of shabu from the suspect.

From there, Emia said his team proceeded to the Reyes Compound in Sitio Sangi, Barangay Tabunok, for another subject identified as Edbert Villadar Reyes, 27, a resident of the place.

Reyes’ accomplices Maria Casselle Laborada Caballero, 34; Milagros Salamante, 46; Vhal Villasquina Lastimosa, 26 and Felipe Cabillon, 52, were also arrested.

Authorities seized 39 small sachets of shabu, another medium pack of shabu, and P500 in suspected drug money. The confiscated shabu weighed six grams and was estimated at worth P40,800.

Emia said he was frustrated upon learning that their subject gets their drugs from persons inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City. However, Emia told reporters that the information they received will not stop them from conducting more drug operations.

Those arrested are now detained at the Talisay City Police Station waiting for charges to be filed against them.

Meanwhile, police arrested Angkong Abapo Sr., 50, of Espelita Street, Barangay Pahina-San Nicolas, Cebu City, during an operation in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Kamagayan, around 4:45 p.m.

In Quijano Compound, Barangay Calamba, Jean Paul Cañete, 36, of Sitio Acasia, Barangay Lorega; and Concepcion Lauron, 40, were arrested. Both yielded 66 grams of drugs worth P449,000, a .38 cal. revolver with three live rounds, and the buy-bust money.  — BRP (FREEMAN)