2 suspects elude arrest: P1.2M in drugs seized in raid

CEBU, Philippines - Authorities have again scored big in the campaign against the illegal drug trade.

Yesterday dawn, policemen in Mandaue City seized at least 10.5 grams of shabu worth P1.2 million and assorted firearms from the house of a suspected bigtime drug pusher during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mantuyong.

Although the police successfully recovered the illegal drugs, the subjects of their operation were able to elude arrest. The suspects were identified as Asliah Diba and Alek Mama.

The Mandaue City Police Office considered Diba as a level 1 drug pusher who could dispose of up to 50 grams of shabu a week.

Barangay Mantuyong was also raided by the police and military in 1999. During that raid, big amount of illegal drugs and assorted high-powered firearms were recovered.

The police admitted that they have difficulty penetrating the area due to the narrow roads leading to its interior portion.

During the raid yesterday, P. Insp. Wilson Abot, chief of Opao Police Station, coordinated with the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Force (CAIDSOTF) led by P. Insp. Henry Bancoleta.

Police said they used an element of surprise against the suspects.

Abot said that around 3 a.m., they entered into the interior portion of the barangay where the suspects were residing.

“Murag suwerte lang sad siguro ta nga naa tay polis nga nag-pose og poseur-buyer unya kursonada kaayong nisuong atong lugara,” Abot said.

He said they were only supposed to buy five grams of shabu from the suspects using “budol-budol” money with P1,000 bills on top.

He said it was Diba who handed over the shabu to Mama who, in turn, turned it over to the poseur-buyer.

But just as the poseur-buyer was about to hand over the payment, the suspects became suspicious of the money in the bag. They also noticed that the poseur-buyer was calling someone through his cellular phone.

It was at this point that they immediately ran towards the interior portion of the barangay to escape from approaching police operatives who were just 20 meters away.

But the police decoy was able to wrestle with Mama before the other operatives could arrive. Mama, however, managed to escape.

“Grabeng ginukoray apan wa g’yud madakpi ang duha kay daghan kaayong lutsanan sa sulod ug nanago ang duha sa mga kabalayan,” Abot said.

Inside Diba’s house, police found 21 big packs of shabu weighing at least 10.5 grams, a .45 caliber pistol, a .22 caliber revolver and a .357 caliber revolver. The handguns were fully loaded.

Abot said even if the suspects were at large, they will still be charged in court. — /LPM (FREEMAN NEWS)