In Talisay City 10 drug suspects, 9 gamblers nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — Around 10 illegal drug suspects and nine illegal gamblers were arrested by members of Talisay City Police Station in a one-time big-time operation dubbed as Oplan Limpyo Talisay from evening to dawn of September 12 and 13, 2020.

Among the drug suspects, four are considered as high-value individuals (HVI) while the others were street level targets.

A total of 56.98 grams of suspected shabu with a value of P401,416 were confiscated from them.

Around 3:30 yesterday morning, the police arrested Marianita Java Villarmea, 47; Ryan Muyco Avillanida, 18, and Christudio Romano Legaspina, 43, at 7 Street, Bulacao, Talisay City where a value of P74,648 suspected shabu was confiscated.

According to Police Major Gerard Ace Pelare, chief of the TCPS, the main subject of the operation was Villarmea whom he said has been a subject of reports for illegal drug trading in the area.

"Suspect was consistently subject of reports on involvement in illegal drugs trade," said Pelare.

Avillanida, working as water refiller in Barangay Tabunok where he allegedly resides, and Legaspina, a deliveryman from Barangay Bulacao, were said to be Villarmea's cohorts in the distribution.

Pelare said they are conducting background checking of the suspects while detained in the station's detention facility.

Police Colonel Aladdin Collado, the new Cebu Police Provincial Office director, also visited the station and had a short conversation with the suspects.

Collado warned the suspects that they will keep on going back to jail if they will not put an end to their illegal drug activities.

"Dahil nakagawa kayo ng kasalanan, pagbayaran nyo," said Collado.

Pelare believed the suspects have been connected with each other and were products of their follow-up operations.

He emphasized the Oplan Limpyo Talisay has been conducted to show that even in pandemic situation, the police force are still on the top of their performance of their main function which is law enforcement.

Pelare further said the arrest of the suspects will serve as warning to other illegal peddlers that the police are determined to go after them.

Also the police have arrested a total of nine illegal gamblers last Saturday night.

"We cannot assure that there will be no illegal gambling problem in Talisay, what we can assure is we will not stop in arresting them, it is the partnership of the PNP and community, kung dili pud motug-an ang community, how would we know?" he added.

Pelare emphasized that the relationship and cooperation of the community and the police especially in Talisay City has been going strong. — GMR (FREEMAN)