Food delivery rider yields P6.8 million drugs

CEBU, Philippines — A food delivery driver transporting at least P6.8 million worth of shabu was arrested yesterday by the agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Sambag I, Cebu City.

The suspect was identified as Baltazar Flores Eranes Jr., 40, resident of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City. He worked as rider for a food delivery service company.

PDEA-7 director Levi Ortiz said the suspect is a high-value target and had been under surveillance even before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Ang atong info dugay na ni siya, nibalik lang ni siya kay tungod sa pandemic, ang term nila, walay bugas kuno, so na stop ang operation until last week nibalik sila, so nakig negotiation ta sa ila,” said Ortiz.

The suspect used as cover for his illegal activities his being a rider for food delivery service. Eranes easily goes through police checkpoints and move from one place to another despite the quarantine restrictions because as a food delivery driver he is considered an authorized person outside residence (APOR).

Seized from him was a kilo of shabu with an estimated value of P6.8 million. The illegal drugs were stashed in transparent plastic and placed inside the thermal bag bearing the logo of the food delivery service company. Eranes denied ownership of the illegal drugs.

According to Eranes, he did not know the item he was asked to deliver was illegal drugs. Eranes admitted he was arrested for robbery in 2002 and is currently out on bail.

Meanwhile, three members of a family were arrested in another buy-bust operation Thursday afternoon in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City.

The suspects were identified as Teodoro L. Villamala Jr., 38; his mother Magdalena L. Villamala, 58; and his aunt Josephine Labistre, 40. Confiscated during the operation were four packs of shabu worth P54,400.

According to PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar, Teodoro was the subject of the operation. He was placed under surveillance for a week following information about his illegal activities.

Albiar said the suspects were included in the PDEA-PNP watchlist.

Teodoro’s sibling, Frederick Villamala, was killed during an anti-drug operation in August 2017. /FPL (FREEMAN)