Drug pusher nabbed, another eludes arrest

CEBU, Philippines - An allegedly noted drug pusher was caught with several ampules of Nubain in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City shortly before midnight yesterday.

In another incident, a level 2 pusher was able to elude arrest from operatives of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Group Monday evening in a buy-bust operation at sitio Suba, barangay Poblacion, Liloan.

Daisy Agustin Torres, 47, yielded at least 33 ampules of Nubain, a pain killer clinically known as Nalbuphine hydrochloride, which was recently declared as an illegal drug.

Operatives of the City Intelligence Ranch of the Cebu City Police Office led by Chief Insp. Romeo Santander and his deputy chief, Insp. Jul Mohammad Jamiri, conducted the buy-bust operation at the suspect’s residence.

The operation, which was in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7, was jointly carried out by the Investigation and Detective Management Branch and assisted by volunteers of the Barangay Peace-keeping Action Team.

At around 11 p.m. last Monday, the team proceeded to the area after sealing a “deal” with the suspect to buy three ampules of the illegal drug.

SPO1 Jeffrey Diola of CIB, who joined the operation, said they placed the suspect under surveillance for two weeks after they received information about her alleged illegal activities in the place.

Assisted by a confidential informant, one of the operatives acted as poseur-buyer.

Police arrested the suspect as soon as she handed over three ampules of Nubain to the police decoy who gave her the P600 buy-bust money.

Police further recovered from her possession 30 ampules of the same chemical substance.

Diola said the suspect is a noted drug pusher in their place. She will face charges for possessing and selling the illegal drugs, Diola added.

In Liloan, a level 2 drug pusher eluded the operatives of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Group Monday evening during a buy-bust operation at sitio Suba, Poblacion.

Now subject of a manhunt operation is Florencio “Busyo” Pepito Jr. who immediately fled upon noticing the presence of the operatives.

He left a pack of shabu, which was taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for chemical analysis.

Pepito escaped just as PO3 Charles Gomez, the poseur buyer, made a signal to the other operatives right after the transaction.

Superintendent Teofilo Siclot, chief of the PAIDSOTG said his personnel chased Pepito but they lost sight of him at a narrow portion of the barangay.

Siclot said Pepito was under surveillance for about two weeks before the operation was carried out. He could dispose illegal drugs worth P100,000 to P200,000 per week. His target areas are the towns of Liloan and Consolacion.

Siclot suspected that Pepito had a spotter in the area since the team has been waiting for hours before Pepito came out of his house.

“Buntag pa na siya giatngan pero gabie na siya nigawas,” Siclot said.

A case will be filed against him for violation of RA 9165 or illegal possession of illegal drugs. (FREEMAN)