Two brothers nabbed for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Two alleged pushers from Barangay Balud, Dalaguete, southern Cebu were taken into police custody on Saturday afternoon after they were nabbed by the Dalaguete police for illegal drug trade.

 Francisco “Francing” Aguitong, 38 and his younger brother Primo “Emoy” Aguitong, 35, both of Barangay Caleriohan but temporarily residing in Barangay Balud, tried to resist arrest and attempted to escape but the police overpowered them.

The subject of the operation was Primo but during the transaction, it was Francisco who handed two small packets of shabu to the decoy.

Police also recovered 12 other small packets of shabu worth P6,000; eight pieces of aluminum foils; two plastic containers and P4,950 believed to be proceeds of the drug trade.

SPO3 Clito Pia, Dalaguete police investigator, said that policemen were surrounding the house, which made it difficult for the suspects to elude arrest.

Pia said that Francisco tried to escape by making his way out at the back door of the house but he returned inside upon seeing the police. Primo hurriedly ran outside but authorities cornered him.

The Aguitong brothers were tagged as level two pushers and were also among those who were on the watch list for illegal drugs of the Dalaguete police. They could dispose P10,000 to P15,000 worth of illegal drugs in a week.

Pia said the suspects’ source of shabu is somebody from Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, where the two visit twice a week.

Francisco sells shabu in Barangay Caleriohan while Primo managed his own trade in Barangay Balud.

Further police investigation also revealed that the Aguitong brothers were alleged drug couriers of brothers Joseph Gañolon, 27 and Jojo Gañolon, 24.

“Mga gaway na lang ni sila atong magsuon kay human to madakpi unya mapatay ang usa, sila na maoy nipuli,” Pia said.

Last August, Joseph was killed on a shootout after he fired shots at members of the Provincial Intelligence Branch who conducted the operation in Barangay Balud. His younger brother Jojo sustained a gunshot in the leg.    

Their cohorts, Brian Carale, 23, of Barangay Balud and Beloriano Heredia, 23, of Barangay Nalhug, were also arrested.

The Aguitong brothers are now detained at the Dalaguete jail while a case for violating Section 5 of the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 is set to be filed today at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. — (FREEMAN)