Siblings nabbed for illegal drugs

CEBU - Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 arrested two of three siblings in Tuburan yesterday at around 8 a.m. after they found white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu, in the houses of the suspects.

The suspects were identified as the Gallarde brothers – Jacinto, Democrito, and Jefferson – all residents of Purok 6 at the Poblacion of the said town.

Of the three, only Jacinto and Democrito were arrested. Jefferson was not in his house at the time when the CIDG operatives served the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras.

Police Chief Insp. Rogarth Campo, leader of the team, in coordination with the Tuburan Police and barangay tanods confiscated from Jacinto two medium packs of the white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu, another medium pack and drug paraphernalia from Democrito; and one small pack and paraphernalia in the house of Jefferson. 

Col. Eleazar Villarmo said that the operation was part of their continuous drive against illegal drugs. Prior to the operation, the team conducted surveillance against the suspects for around two weeks.

When it was confirmed that the suspects are indeed into the illegal drugs trade, authorities requested a search warrant from the court.

Operatives said that during the surveillance, a number of the suspects’ neighbors complained of the rampant selling of shabu in their place.

It was also learned that this is already the third time that Jacinto and Democrito were arrested for the same violation.

Jefferson was nabbed three times before, but this time eluded arrest. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)