P6.5M shabu seized in buy-bust operation

CEBU, Philippines — Suspected drugs worth P6.5 million were seized in a buy-bust operation in Upper Kawayan, Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City around 6 a.m. yesterday.

Abellana Police Station Chief Maria Theresa Macatangay identified the suspect as Reinhard Moreno, 29.

“Actually, kaning tawhana nadakpan na ni namo pag 2016 for possession of nubain drugs and last year 2017 for possession of paraphernalia for nubain” Macatangay said.

The Abellana police personnel received a tip that Moreno is involved in selling drugs which prompted her team station and operatives of the Drug Enforcement Unit to conduct a drug bust against the suspect.

“We are told only nga naay dako nga transaction, but kana man gud subject for validation.  So, our personnel engaged in a buy-bust operation against him and nakurat mi nga ing-ani gyud kadaghan ang nakuha (gikan) niya. Gatuo mi nga gamay nga kani rang gamay nga bulto ang naa nya but naa pa jud diay sya daghan in his possession,” Macatangay said.

Moreno allegedly yielded five large and one medium packs of suspected shabu worth P6.5 million and P12,000 believed to be proceeds of his illegal activity.

Moreno, for his part, denied he owns the drugs.  He said the drugs were only delivered to him by an unidentified woman riding a white van yesterday morning.

“According sa among initial information na nakuha, ang gaplano sa tanan, gikan sa source padung sa nadakpan nato karon naa sa Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).  So, mao na ato gisuta karon, ang ilahang distribution dili lang ngari sa area namo but sa gawas pud,” Macatangay said.

“Gatuo ta nga advance nata sa mga pulis sa ato means sa pagpanakop nila, (pero) sila pud nag-one step upgrade in doing their transactions to minimize being detected,” she said.

Cebu City Police Officer Director Royina Garma said the police won’t stop because drugs are still rampant.

“Hanggat nakakahuli kami ng milyon-milyon pa, ibig sabihin marami pang drugs.  Kaya nga we won’t stop,” she said.

Shabu session

In a separate development, two men were arrested in Carmen, Cebu last Sunday after authorities caught them in the act having their shabu session.

The police identified the suspects as Rex Canama, 33, and Alvin Broñola, 18, both from Bogo City.

They were also with a certain Sanyce “Lovely” Ejurango, 26, a resident of San Remegio, but Ejurado was able to escape from the arrest.

Senior Police Officer 1 Arnel Manos, of the Carmen police station, said they received a report from a habal-habal driver saying that he saw people entering an abandoned area in the said place.

“Kaning lugara is known na ni nga suyopanan,” he said.

The police recovered two small packets of suspected shabu, an aluminum tinfoil, lighter, and a rolled tissue paper.

Canama and Broñola were drug surrenderers in Bogo City but did not continue.

In Consolacion, a certain Kevin “Jason” Riuyan, 18, was arrested in a buy-bust operation.

Recovered from Riuyan’s possession were 10 small sachets of shabu.

Oscar Cabanog Jorolan, 35, was also arrested in Purok Acasia, Sitio Looc, Barangay Poblacion, Liloan last Sunday.

Liloan Police Station received a report from a concern citizen, saying that Jorolan was allegedly creating trouble in the place while possessing a sharp knife.

Upon the arrest of Jorolan, authorities recovered two pieces of suspected shabu from his possession.

Transporting marijuana

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended no bail against a 22-year-old man, who was allegedly about to transport marijuana bound to Ormoc City.

Prosecutor II Fatima Asjali-Maadil held Gino Baring, a resident of Poblacion, Albuera Leyte, for trial after finding probable cause for a violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Baring was apprehended on August 3, at 4:25 p.m. at the Security Inspection Area of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) Passenger Terminal 1 at Pier 1.

X-ray operator Jimboy Ponce said that the detector machine sounded when Baring passed by it. Thus, he asked Baring if he was carrying any metallic object.

When Baring was about to be frisked, he suddenly ran towards the pre-departure area.

Ponce’s colleagues were able to stop Baring from boarding the vessel.

When they brought Baring to the Port Police Station, they learned that he was allegedly in possession of 148 grams of marijuana. – Marenyl M. Bolhano, Irene L. Gardose (FREEMAN)