2 pushers fall in Talamban

Two suspected pushers were caught possessing P1,000 worth of shabu each at a checkpoint in sitio Pundok, barangay Talamban Saturday night.

Juvel Cogay and Sergio Durano, both of legal age and residents of the same barangay, were riding a "habal-habal" when flagged down by the police at the checkpoint.

PO1 Leoncio Canoy said a pack of shabu fell from the case Cogay, the driver, pulled out when he was asked to present his driver's license. Durano, on the other had, yielded a pack of shabu from his wallet when policemen demanded for his identification card.

Initial investigation revealed that the two came from sitio Dita in the same barangay where they had just gotten their supply of shabu, and were on their way to deliver it somewhere in the barrio proper.

Sitio Dita has been dubbed by authorities as "Little Pasil" since it is reportedly the center of the illegal drugs trade in the mountain barangays.

Illegal drug operation in the area was stopped last year following the arrest of some big-time pushers, but it gained ground recently because the relatives of those who were arrested have continued their trade.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch arrested five men for illegal gambling in separate incidents in barangay Banilad and North Reclamation Area Saturday dawn.

Nabbed for playing "tong-its" in barangay Banilad were Locrisio Bedrijo of Tayud Consolacion, Jerry Duyag of barangay Talamban and Francisco Beyagan of Barrio Luz.

Those arrested for engaging in "hantak" at the North Reclamation Area were Danilo Palacio and Elezer Rosaroso, both residents of barangay Tejero. - Ryan P. Borinaga