P13 million drugs seized from teenager

CEBU, Philippines —  More than P13 million worth of suspected shabu was recovered from a teenager in a buy-bust operation Friday evening in Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City.

Operatives of the Cebu City Police Station 2 led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Mayam, the chief of Police Drug Enforcement Group Visayas (PDEG Visayas), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 (PDEA-7) and the Cebu City Police Office conducted the buy-bust operation.

The suspect was identified as Rico Baldesamos Rubi, 19, a resident of A. Lopez Street, Barangay Labangon, Cebu City. The police reportedly have been monitoring him for about three months.

The confiscated illegal drugs from the suspect include 11 plastic packs of suspected shabu weighing about two kilos and valued at around P13.6 million.

Mayam said that Rubi serves as the drug distributor and that he gets his supply from his father in Luzon.

His father is reportedly a bigtime drug pusher, who is currently detained.

“Iyang papa bigtime nga pusher, maka-direct siya sa supplier sa Luzon unya iyang anak na ang mo-distribute,” Mayam said.

Further investigation revealed Rubi’s clients are also drug distributors that would order no less than 500 grams from him in every transaction.

Mayam added that Rubi has named some other personalities who are now subject to their follow-up operation.

Meanwhile, about P30,000 worth of drugs were seized from three men in separate buy-bust operations in Cebu City.

The first suspect was identified as John “Brix” Ybañez, 21, a resident of Sitio Lawis Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

About P23,664 worth of suspected shabu weighing 3.48 grams was seized from him by the operatives of the Mambaling Police Station.

In Alumnos Seaside, Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City, the police arrested suspects Randy Echivarria, 40, and Allan Abarquez, 51, both residents of the area.

Eleven small sachets of suspected shabu were recovered from Echivarria while Abarquez was quickly nabbed by the police after being caught in the act of throwing four small sachets of shabu in the ground.

The total drugs seized from them weighed 0.9 grams and valued P6,120.

The operation was led by Police Captain Francis Renz Talosia, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 conducted the Anti-Drug Operation that resulted to the arrest of the three men. — David E. Mesias, Noreen Rose C. Vilchez, CNU Interns/GAN (FREEMAN)