P23.6 million shabu seize in Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Two kilos of shabu, worth P23.6 million, were confiscated yesterday morning during a raid by a joint team of operatives at the sari-sari store of the rented house of a suspected drug dealer or middleman at Barangay Bajumpandan in Dumaguete City.

The shabu, contained in four packs, were seized from 27-year-old Janmark Abadilla, alias “Biboy,” who was served by the authorities with a search warrant issued by Dumaguete City Judge Gerardo Paguio.

The raiding team — composed of NORPPO’s Provincial Intelligence Branch-Special Operations Group (PIB-SOG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Dumaguete City Police, and Police Maritime Command — served the warrant on Abadilla, and searched the house, as witnessed by Barangay Councilman Esmail Rasid and members of the media, resulting in the discovery of the shabu.

Initial investigations showed that the shabu had just arrived because it was still packed in ziplock plastic, but was reportedly set for distribution to students during a grand event of a university in the city.

Also seized, allegedly from Abadilla’s possession, were a .38-caliber revolver with 11 bullets, two cellphones, digital weighing scale, lighters, scissors, improvised clip, tinfoils, empty plastic sachets, and P113,290 cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal trade, according to Senior Inspector Arnel Von Alegria, PIB-SOG chief.

Alegria said Abadilla is allegedly one of the main sources, or “bodegeros,” of illegal drugs in Negros Oriental. “Mao na na ilang (drug syndicates) ginagamit ron, mga batan-on. Siguro kay kasaligan na nila, mga good players ni before,” Alegria told The FREEMAN over the phone.

Further background checks by the police showed that the suspect first started as a user and eventually “upgraded” as a pusher of drugs. Alegria said authorities have been monitoring Abadilla after they received reports of the suspect’s alleged drug transactions in his sari-sari store.

He had also been reportedly depositing large amounts of money—at least P50,000 every other day—to a certain bank account allegedly belonging to his superior. Alegria said this was “unusual” as the deposits significantly exceeded the proceeds of the suspect’s store.

Since he only rents the place in Bajumpandan where he was arrested, authorities have yet to determine if Abadilla is a native of Dumaguete or from other places. He was a resident of Colon Extension but has reportedly been transferring residence from one place to another.

Alegria said they have been receiving reports before about the nefarious activity of the suspect and so a test buy was conducted and it yielded positive results.  Abadilla is considered a Level 2 drug pusher because he can dispose 200 grams of shabu in one week.

Abadilla is now under the custody of the PIB-SOG and is detained at the Dumaguete City Police station. He is set to face charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. - Syril G. Repe, Raffy T. Cabristante