CEBU, Philippines – Illegal drugs amounting to P17, 000 was confiscated from two persons during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Bas Diot, Moalboal, southern Cebu yesterday dawn.
Arrested and detained in the police stockade were Joselito Tapales and Jeffrey Jesus Estabella, residents of Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City .
Confiscated from their possession were three pieces of medium-sized plastics and seven large plastics with contents believed to be illegal drugs.
Also seized from the two were a small amount of white powder placed in an aluminum tin foil believed to be cocaine, three pieces plastic fillers, two pieces improvised tooters, six disposable lighters, a scissors and several empty plastic packs used for repacking.
The police also found boodle money, .45 caliber pistol and one magazine loaded with six live ammunitions.
The arrest was a joint operation of the Moalboal Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB).
PO2 Cielo Quimat of Provincial Intelligence Branch said that Tapales was the only subject of the operation and was under surveillance for a week.
"Nianha sad nang usa diha kay basin naay transaction," he told The Freeman. (The other one probably had a transaction with Tapales.)
Quimat said both suspects rented a room at Hannah's Beach Resort where they were arrested.
The poseur-buyer, PO3 Reynaldo Solante, handed the boodle money. The suspects detected the presence of the police personnel and immediately locked the door of their rented room.
The police broke the door and immediately handcuffed the suspects.
"We did not have a choice, we were thinking that they might flush the illegal drugs at the toilet bowl," Quimat said.
All confiscated pieces of evidence were submitted to the PNP Crime Laboratory for chemical analysis, while appropriate charges are being prepared against the two. (FREEMAN)