Top drug suspect, 4 others nabbed in city drug busts

CEBU, Philippines - Five persons, including a top drug suspect in a police precinct watchlist, fell into the hands of the authority after they were caught allegedly selling illegal drugs during separate buy-bust operations in Cebu City since Thursday evening.

Past 9 p.m. on Thursday, Pari-an Police Station personnel arrested the subject of the operation identified as Jessie Manatad, 29, of Sitio Lawis in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel.

Police said Manatad was enlisted number one in their drug watchlist and was placed under surveillance after police received reports that he was engaged in illegal drug activity.

During the operation, a police agent who acted as poseur buyer transacted with Manatad beside a lodge at Colon Street.

After the transaction was consummated, police then declared that it was a buy-bust operation and arrested Manatad.

The team frisked the suspect for possible evidence which yielded positive.

Seized from the suspect’s possession were a total of 33 small sachets of suspected shabu.

Manatad is currently placed under the custody of the Pari-an police pending the filing of criminal complaints before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

He may be facing violations of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), specifically on sale and possession of dangerous drugs.

In a separate operation at 1:30 a.m. yesterday at Quijano Compound, Barangay Calamba, police arrested Alberto Palao, 47, resident of B. Rodriguez St. in Barangay Sambag 2.

Seized from him were three small and two medium sachets of shabu.

Along with Palao, who was the subject of the operation, his three other alleged cohorts were also arrested for alleged possession of illegal drugs.

They were identified as Jefferson Solon, 21, of Cogon Ramos; Rodrigo Antalan, 19, of Barangay Kamputhaw; and Odeosy Chavez, 27, also of Barangay Kamputhaw.

All suspects of yesterday’s operation are now detained at Cebu City Police Office stockade waiting for the filing of complaints.

Police placed the value of the seized drugs at around P118, 000. (FREEMAN)