3 arrested for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected bigtime drug pushers and their cohort were nabbed by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch during a two buy-bust operations in San Francisco on Camotes Islands on Wednesday.

The suspects were identified as Pedro Miao Gonzaga, 41, of Barangay Sunog; Arcenio Ramirez Otida Jr., 30, and Haide Muaña Peña, 30, both of Barangay Northern Poblacion.

The operatives recovered four medium packs of shabu, a cellular phone, and six pieces of P100 bills from Gonzaga’s possession.

They also recovered three small packs and three medium packs of shabu, a cellular phone and six pieces of P100 bills from Peña and Otida.

The illegal drugs recovered were taken yesterday to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.

Police Officer 2 Sheilo Quimat said the two operations were carried out two days after a tip from an informant.

Gonzaga was immediately arrested after he handed over two small sachets of shabu to a police poseur-buyer inside his residence.

His wife, Celia, managed to escape during the operation.

In another operation, operatives went to the residence of Otida.

Otida failed to hand over shabu to a poseur-buyer since he ran out of supply, prompting him to accompany the police asset to Peña.

Chief Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, deputy of the PIB, said Gonzaga, the main subject of the operation, was on their watchlist.

Gonzaga and Otida were considered level two drug pushers in the town. Both could disposed of illegal drugs amounting P150,000 a week.

The suspects are now detained at the Liloan police stockade.

Violations of Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165 will be filed against them at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. — THE FREEMAN