Jaguar's courier charged with drug sale, possession

CEBU, Philippines - The reported cohort of slain suspected drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz is now facing criminal charges before the court for alleged possession of more than 100 grams of alleged shabu that authorities allegedly confiscated from him during an entrapment operation last December 26.

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office charged Oliver Valiente, 36, a resident of Sitio Plastikan, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, with violations of Sections 5 (selling) and 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of Article 2 under the Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Prosecutor Maria Lourdes Bragat-Quilitorio did not recommend bail for Valiente's temporary liberty since selling of dangerous drugs is a non-bailable offense.

Mambaling Police Station chief Eduard Sanchez confirmed that Valiente used to be Diaz's courier and had been placed under surveillance for two weeks. He disclosed that Valiente could dispose of about 100 to 200 grams of shabu every week.

He said they seized a total of 106 grams of suspected shabu from Valiente's possession with an estimated value of P450,000 and P10,000 cash believed to be proceeds from his illegal drug trade.

Valiente, who refused to give statement to the media, is the fifth drug suspect linked to Diaz to be arrested last month.

In other reports, nine people were arrested for allegedly selling and possessing shabu in separate police operations.

The police said that a concerned citizen reported that there's an ongoing illegal drug trade in Barangay Mabolo.

The police were told that a man named "Nognog" and Dahlia "Ghembomb"   Alvarado, 48, resident of Sitio Gil Tudtud, Barangay Mabolo, were allegedly known as the perpetrators of the illegal drug trade in Sitio Relis.

When the police went to the area to verify the report, Alvarado reportedly saw them and hurriedly ran inside her house.

Alvarado was caught with three pieces of plastic sachets believed to be shabu worth P31,000.

According to the police, Alvarado still has a pending case before the Regional Trial Court for violation of RA 9165 Art II Section 11 and 12 filed by the Mabolo Police Station.

The police also arrested Chrismel "Nognog" Magdasal, 23, a resident of Sitio Holy Name, after he was caught with five small packs of suspected shabu worth P2500.

Two more medium packs of suspected shabu worth P30,000 were also found inside his right pocket.

 Another Sitio Relis resident, Bernard Anthony Ortiz, 37, was also arrested after he was caught with a disposable lighter, three rolled tissue allegedly used as wicks and three rolled tin foils believed to be used as tooter and funnel and two small unsealed transparent packs containing shabu residue.

In Barangay Carreta, four people were also arrested after police authorities received a complaint from a resident in the area.

The police arrested Dante Fernandez, 39, a resident of Sitio Kalapukan, after he was caught with five small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets with shabu and paraphernalia.

According to the police, Fernandez still has a pending case drug possession.

Minutes after, Evangeline "Tina" Duazo, 30 was also arrested after Fernandez told the police that she is also engaged in illegal drug trade in the area.

Confiscated from Duazo were four small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet with shabu worth P2,000.

Aside from them, Reynaldo 'Mongking" Camahalan, 40, Arvin Libotlibot, 34 and Michael Valle, 35, were also arrested for possession of alleged shabu and paraphernalia.

In Talisay City, the police failed to arrest their target, Benjeser "Jabar" Teves Jr., a resident of Sitio Pungsod, Barangay Lawaan 3.  Instead, they were able to accost Gerly Glen Luwagi, 24, for possessing 15 packs of suspected shabu.

PO1 John Ilustrisimo said that during the exchange of the five packs of shabu and a P1,000 marked money, Teves noticed that it was the police that he was transacting with, prompting him to immediately escape.  —  Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Frances Denise Lagdameo, Iris Mariani B. Algabre (FREEMAN)