13-year-old “runner” rescued: Pusher dead in drug ops

CEBU, Philippines — An 18-year-old alleged drug peddler was killed in a shootout during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City last Saturday night.

Police identified the casualty as Raphael Arcipe also known as Pael.

Operatives also arrested Arcipe’s alleged customer, Jerie Cataraja Yuang, 24, and rescued a 13-year-old boy who reportedly served as Arcipe’s runner.

Police said they were forced to retaliate when Arcipe fired first when he sensed that he was transacting with an undercover cop.

The emergency response unit arrived in the area and pronounced Arcipe dead.

Aside from the .38 caliber revolver Arcipe reportedly used, Scene of the Crime Operatives also recovered 18 small sachets of suspected shabu from the Arcipe’s pocket.

Mabolo Police chief Dindo Juanito Alaras said Arcipe lived in Mandaue City and only went to Mabolo to sell drugs.

He reportedly built a shanty in Sitio Abbatoir where he allegedly made customers use the drugs they bought from him.

Alaras said there were users at the shanty during the operation but they were able to flee.

“Naay info nga parokyano niya mga construction worker diri sa Mabolo. Naa na siyay kubol-kubol diha mao nay gihimo nila nga suyopanan,” Alaras said.

Friday operation

Meanwhile, police revealed that a drug personality at a detention center in Metro Cebu reportedly is one of the “bosses” of Michael Carabaña, the man arrested during a drug operation in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City last Friday night.

The drugs confiscated from him were worth P41.8 million.

P/Senior Insp. Dexter Basirgo, the chief of Police Station 9, said the detainee served as a financier for drugs sourced from Manila.

“Naay usa sa mga amo ani naa sa sulod sa prisohan sa Metro Cebu. Known drug personality. Financer ra ni siya; kwarta ra iyang gipalihok,” Basirgo said.

The drugs reportedly reached Cebu via cargo vessel and were claimed by Jemuel Enrile, one of those arrested with Carabaña.

The other two men arrested, Arnold Pacong and Agustin Regis Quijano, were allegedly Carabaña’s pushers.

Basirgo said they have extracted substantial information from the four men and follow-up operations will be conducted based on the information.

Unlucky

Meanwhile, in an unfortunate move, a man identified as Bemar Udto, 38, landed in jail after the man he asked to look for shabu for him turned him over to authorities.

PO1 Chico Dela Cruz said the informant reported Udto to the City Drug Enforcement Unit afternoon on November 15, 2018 and the police looked into the information immediately.

After verifying the information, a buy-bust operation was carried out together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 at 8 p.m., which led to Udto’s arrest.

Operatives recovered 98.6700 grams of shabu from Udto.

Udto is facing charges for selling and possession of shabu. He chose not to undergo the preliminary investigation and to face the charges straight in court.

He was not allowed to post bail for both cases. — Mylen P. Manto (FREEMAN)