Man charged, 5 nabbed for drugs

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the filing of a case against a man for allegedly selling drugs in conspiracy with a woman who was already charged in court.

Jeffrey Del Mar alias Poloy, a resident of Sitio Acacia, Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City, is facing charges for a violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Prosecutor III Van Russel Inopiquez indicted Del Mar before the court after finding probable cause.

“Culled from the uncontroverted evidence of the raiding team police officers, it can be gleaned that a probable cause exists to indict respondent for trial of the crime charged. It is undisputed that there was transaction of sale of shabu between a certain Marichu whose real name is Maria Liza Magdasal, the here in respondent and the poseur buyer and the confidential informant,” read the resolution.

Police Officer 3 Armando Ponce, Jr. said that on August 4, 2018, at 7:40 p.m. they conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lorega.

They approached Marichu and the accused. Marichu then asked them if they will buy shabu.

Ponce said after the transaction was completed, they placed Marichu, later identified as Magdasal, under arrest.

However, accused managed to elude arrest and fled towards an interior portion of the place.

The police said despite their effort, they failed to arrest Del Mar but they still filed a case against him.

 Inopiquez issued a subpoena to Del Mar but the latter failed to appear. Thus, the case was submitted for resolution.

Meanwhile, operatives of Mabolo Police Station led by Chief Inspector Dindo Juanito Alaras arrested Jordan Llanos, 31, of Sitio Laray, Barangay Carreta; and Giovanni Good, 41, of Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Lorega.

Seized from the suspects were one small sachet and two medium packs of illegal drugs with an estimated value at P57,200.

A few hours later, the same unit conducted another buy-bust operation and arrested Jomar Tampon, 32, a resident of Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Lorega, Cebu City.

Operatives confiscated five small sachets and one medium pack of illegal drugs worth P80,700.

Alaras said the information about Tampon’s illegal activities came from those they previously arrested.

Alaras added that Tampon was under surveillance for more than a month.

During this time, they learned that Llanos and Good are involved in Tampon’s illegal operations.

Tampon was named as the drug source of the two other suspects. He can dispose of between 100 grams to 150 grams of illegal drugs per week in the areas of Lahug, Labangon, and Carreta.

In Barangay Mambaling, almost P100,000 worth of illegal drugs was seized from two men during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Puntod Alaska, Barangay Mambaling last Monday.

The arrested suspects were Casper Gabuya, 21, and Gonzalo Gomez, 24, both are residents of the area.

Senior Inspector Francis Talosig, Mambaling police chief, said the two were not included in the station’s drug watchlist.

“Actually wala na sila sa watchlist nato. Naa lang ni text regarding anang  illegal activities nila, unya ato nang gi validate,” he said. (They are not in the watchlist.  We just got a text message about them and we validated the information.)

Seized from the two were 44 packs of shabu weighing 12.52 grams with an estimated value of P85,136.

Also seized was P400 believed to be proceeds from the illegal drug trade.

Talosig said the primary subject of the operation was Gabuya.

Gomez was only apprehended by police when he was allegedly caught throwing away plastic sachets which police believed contained illegal-drugs.

The two are detained at the Mambaling Police Station pending filing of proper charges. — Marjory D. Enriquez, USJ-R Intern, -Imarie Jane D. Madarieta, USJ-R Intern, MBG, (FREEMAN)