In less than 24 hours in Cebu City P7.2 million shabu seized

CEBU, Philippines — A string of police operations resulted in the confiscation of P7.2 million worth of suspected shabu and the arrest of six persons in less than 24 hours in Cebu City.

The bulk of the illegal drugs hauled came from the operation in Sitio Tiera Cura, Barangay Tejero where police seized 380 grams of shabu worth almost P4.5 million at around 11:55 p.m. Wednesday.

The suspects arrested were Ruel Paalam, 52, from  Barangay Carreta and Matteo Ochea, 30,  from Barangay Tejero.

Senior Inspector Joemar Pomarehos, chief of Waterfront police that led the operation, said that the arrest of the suspects came after a tip provided by an informant to the social media page of Cebu City Police Office called Itug-an Ni CD.

Pomarehos said they conducted surveillance and investigation and were able to confirm the illegal drug transactions of the two suspects.

Meanwhile, two street-level drug targets were arrested by San Nicolas police in Barangay Labangon. They were identified as Mark Vernon Velasco, 28, and Mario Labasa Lascuña, 61.

Chief Inspector Keith Allen Andaya said the 5.25 grams of shabu seized from the two had market value of over P61,000.

Also rescued from the area were two boys aged 13 and 14.

During two separate operations yesterday dawn, operatives from Pardo police station also recovered close to P2 million worth of drugs.

The first one took place past 2 a.m. yesterday in Sitio Mahayay Dos, Barangay Pasil where a certain Nicolas Maranga Jr. was arrested.

Chief Inspector Regino Maramag, Pardo police chief, said Maranga’s name popped up interviews with previously-arrested drug personalities.

Maramag said he was the one who took over the reins in the illegal drug trade after Fiel Secretaria, a nephew of a slain top drug lord, was arrested last month.

Seized  from Maranga was P944,000 worth of illegal drugs.

The second operation took place as a follow-up as police traced that Maranga was getting back-up drugs from a certain John Martin Inso, a newly-identified drug suspect.

Recovered from Inso was P885,000 worth of drugs. Maramag said that Inso admitted he sources his drugs from a contact person based inside Mandaue City Jail.

“Napag-alaman namin na kapag nauubusan na si Maranga, sa kanya (Inso) na ito kumukuha, and si Inso naman ay may source sa loob na kumu-contact na sa kanya,”  Maramag said.

All evidence recovered have been turned over to PNP Crime Laboratory for tracking, inventory, and assessment.

The drug suspects arrested are temporarily detained at the respective police stations prior to the filing of appropriate charges in violation to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. — JMD (FREEMAN)