CEBU, Philippines - Several vials of nubain, four firearms, and drug paraphernalia were confiscated from an alleged level two drug pusher during a buy-bust operation conducted by the operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch early dawn yesterday.
Placed under arrest was Darwin “Dangwen” Manto, 30. The buy-bust was conducted at his residence along Beatriz D. Durano St., Barangay Poblacion, Danao City.
Operatives led by PO3 Reynaldo Solante confiscated nine vials of nubain amounting P2,000; 24 disposable syringes; one caliber .38 Smith and Wesson revolver loaded with five live ammunitions; one caliber 22 Magnum Colt long barreled revolver with six live ammunitions; a caliber 22 Magnum Black Widow long rifle revolver with five live ammos; a caliber 22 Magnum Black Widow revolver with one ammo; a suppressor of a caliber .45 pistol; an empty magazine of a caliber .45 pistol; P700 cash in different denominations; and two P100 bills, which was used as buy-bust money.
The illegal drugs were taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory at the Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis.
Manto was under surveillance for a month before the operation was carried out, Solante said. He allegedly could sell 100 vials of nubain amounting to P22,000 per week.
Manto’s house, which practically resembles a shanty, is well-fenced and reportedly closed all the time. Buyers would reportedly ring a bell and the transaction gets consummated through a hole on the door. During the bust, the operatives were able to grab Manto’s arm when he handed the vial of nubain to the poseur buyer.
Solante said Manto is jobless and selling nubain was his only source of income. He allegedly has been retailing nubain for P25 per five cubic centimeters.
In an interview, Manto claimed that debt pushed him to engage in the illegal activity. His reportedly gets the drug from a source based in Barangay Kamagayan in Cebu City. He said he was supposed to work abroad as a backhoe operator but the same did not materialize.
Police Superintendent Rodulfo Albotra, chief of the PIB said even if nubain is not as rampant as in Cebu City still they will be monitoring Cebu pro-vince.
“There is a possi-bility nga mutaas ni kay ang users will prefer nubain as alternative of drugs,” Albotra said in a separate interview. – (FREEMAN)