7 fall in Talisay buy-busts, 3 of them drug surrenderers

CEBU, Philippines —  The Drug Enforcement Unit of Talisay City arrested seven drug suspects, including three who were supposed to graduate from a community-based treatment, in a series of buy-bust operations in the barangays of Cansojong and Biasong on Friday and Saturday.

According to Talisay City Police Station chief Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, the two-day “Oplan Limpyo Talisay” also resulted in the seizure of 3.65 grams of suspected shabu valued at about P24,000.

Police first arrested on Friday evening Emilio Da-an Abellana, who is considered as a street level individual (SLI) target, and a certain Rommel Babanto Erwela. Both yielded a gram of shabu with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P6,800.

Also arrested in succeeding operations were other SLIs identified as Redford Candia Narangjo, Kenel Basmayor Nipaya, Nelson Lareta Billesa, Robinson Dalusung Infante and Raymund Navarro Quiliope.

Narangjo yielded 0.7 gram of shabu worth P4,750 while Nipaya and Billesa were also caught with 0.7 gram of shabu worth P4,750. Finally, Infante and Quiliope allegedly bore 1.25 grams of shabu worth P8,500.

Based on the police report, Billesa, Narangjo and Nipaya were among the 27 drug surrenderers who were supposed to graduate from community-based treatment of the barangay last June 10.

During the graduation, police authorities conducted a surprise drug test where at least four surrenderers had tested positive for illegal drug use.

Pelare said they immediately conducted a monitoring to ensure that illegal drug use and trade will be minimized, if not completely eradicated, in Biasong.

All suspects will be charged for violation of the provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The police chief said that even with the ongoing pandemic, there is no letup in the campaign against illegal drugs as the Philippine National Police and the city government of Talisay continue with their thrust of ridding the city of the social menace. – Dominic I. Dilao, University of the Visayas Intern, JMD (FREEMAN)