Minors arrested, drugs worth P5 million seized

CEBU, Philippines — Four drug suspects, including two minors, were arrested in an anti-drug operation in Cebu City Tuesday. One of the minors was tagged as high value target.

Authorities also confiscated shabu worth at least P5 million during the buy-bust operations that started dawn and ended in the afternoon.

The first operation on F. Ramos Street in Barangay Cogon at 2 a.m. resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect from Villagonzalo 1 from whom authorities confiscated drugs worth P2,000. The boy is reportedly a street level target.

Police Major Elisandro Quijano, the chief of the Abellana Police Station, said they tracked the boy for two weeks.

At around 6:30 a.m., another operation on M. Velez Street in Barangay Capitol Site resulted in the arrest of a certain Geronimo Susada Laluna, 41, from Barangay Guadalupe, also reportedly a street level target.

Police confiscated from Laluna at least 1.2 grams of suspected shabu worth an estimated P6,000.

It was in the operation on General Maxilom Avenue in Barangay Kamputhaw that authorities arrested a certain Jake Purisima Seno, 24, a high-value target. He is a resident of Barangay Luz. They seized from him 200 grams of drugs worth at least P1 million.

Early afternoon on that day, they also arrested another high value target, a 17-year-old resident of Barangay Tinago, who yielded drugs worth P4 million.

They arrested him in Barangay Kamputhaw.

Quijano told The Freeman investigation is ongoing to determine if the four suspects belong to the same network or a drug syndicate.

He said the suspects disposed of the drugs in Metro Cebu.

Laluna and Seno are detained at the Abellana Police Station while the two minors will be turned over to the Operation Second Chance. All four will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Quijano said it is possible that drug lords used the two minors in their operations so that the boys can avail easily of a suspended sentence.

"Nahibaw naman sad ta, public knowledge nga ang mga drug lords minors na ang gamiton considering nga adto ra ni sila sa second chance para maka avail sila sa suspended sentence (We know this… it’s public knowledge that drug lords use minors because they can avail of a suspended sentence),"  Quijano said. JMO (FREEMAN)