Drug war: 4 suspects slain, P27.5-million shabu seized

MANILA, Philippines — Four drug suspects were killed in Cavite and Bohol yesterday while around P27.5 million worth of shabu were recovered in anti-drug operations in Negros Oriental, Zamboanga City and Albay in the past two days.

Two men who have yet to be identified reportedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in a sting in Barangay Malagasang I-B, Imus at around 3 a.m.

Eddie Vaño and Joel Olalo allegedly shot it out with police officers in drug raids in Barangay Bicao, Carmen and Anda towns, respectively, in Bohol.

Police said Vaño yieded 110 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P1.3 million.

Around 116 grams of shabu valued at P1.6 million, 26 assorted firearms and a hand grenade were reportedly recovered from Olalo.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, said 41 other suspects were arrested in simultaneous anti-drug operations in Bohol yesterday.

Meanwhile, two kilos of shabu worth P23.6 million were recovered from “high-value” target Janmark Abadilla, alias Biboy, in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City yesterday.

Last week, 5.4 kilos of shabu worth P72 million, which reportedly originated in Cebu, were recovered in a drug bust in San Carlos, Negros Occidental. Police said it was the biggest shabu haul in Western Visayas.

Senior Superintendent Raul Tacaca, acting Negros Oriental police director, said  P113,290 in cash, a weighing scale, two cell phones, a caliber .38 revolver, ammunition and drug paraphernalia were also recovered from Abadilla.

In Zamboanga City, Majir Nadza Ismail, 45, reportedly yielded P700,000 worth of shabu in a drug sting in Barangay Mampang on Wednesday night.

Police recovered around 40 grams of shabu valued at P360,000 from  drug surrenderees Marvin Sevillano, 45, and Antonio Alejo, 43, during raids on their houses in Barangay Sabang, Legazpi, Albay.

In Baguio City, Dick Bravo, 43, former barangay kagawad of Lopez Jaena, who is in President Duterte’s list of drug personalities, was arrested after selling a sachet of shabu worth P10,000 to anti-narcotics agents along Harrison road also on Wednesday. 

Authorities also seized a jeepney allegedly used by the suspect in his transactions. – Roel Pareño, Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Cet Dematera