Three alleged pushers arrested

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged bigtime drug pusher was apprehended by the police yesterday dawn at Sitio Camagong, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Hermigildo Lisondra, 51, a taxi driver and a native of Negros Oriental, was arrested by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Central Visayas inside the drug den in his house around 5:15 a.m. yesterday. 

The arrest came after several complaints CIDG-7 received from Lisondra’s neighbors on the rampant proliferation of illegal drugs in the area, said PO3 Ramil Retuerto.

Following the complaint, the CIDG-7 placed Lisondra under surveillance since late last month until a search warrant was released by Regional Trial Court Branch 57 Judge Enriqueta Belarmino on Feb. 21.

Armed with the search warrant, a team from CIDG-7 raided Lisondra’s hideout while he was still asleep.

Lisondra was caught completely by surprise and went with the police peacefully, Retuerto said.   

Recovered from the suspect’s drug den were 10 sachets, a medium pack of white powder believed to be shabu and drug paraphernalia. The alleged drugs had a total street value of roughly P20,000.

A .38 cal. revolver and 12 live .38 cal. rounds were also found inside a drawer. 

Lisondra denied ownership of the drugs, adding that he had nothing to do with what the police were accusing him of. 

Retuerto alleged the suspects have been operating in that area for over a year. He reportedly gets his drug supply from a certain “Danny”. 

Police surveillance revealed that Lisondra reportedly transacts with his patrons inside his room that also serves as a drug den.     

Lisondra is currently detained at the CIDG-7 stockade while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the firearms law will be filed against him.

Meanwhile, two alleged drug pushers were also arrested in Barangay Gairan, Bogo City, last Monday afternoon.

First arrested during a buy-bust operation about 1:30 p.m. was Randel Cadorna, 30, of Barangay Sudlonon, while about 4 p.m. Roberto Ybañez, 33, of Barangay Gairan was also arrested during a saturation drive.

Chief Insp. Ceferino Tabay, Bogo police chief, said Cardona has been under surveillance for weeks after reports reached their office of his involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Police then arranged a plan to arrest Cadorna in Sitio Rosal.

After a poseur-buyer traded a P200 bill for a small packet of shabu, Cadorna was then arrested.

The second arrest happened in the basketball court in Barangay Gairan where Ybañez was arrested. He was allegedly seen carrying out a drug transaction in a corner.

Tabay said Ybañez tried to escape after seeing the police patrol car. A brief chase ensued before he was cornered and arrested by the police.

Recovered from his possession was a small packet of suspected shabu, P720 believed to be proceeds from his drug sales and a cellular phone.

Tabay added Ybañez is in their watchlist. In fact, Ybañez admitted he was arrested before by the Medellin police a few years ago but he was released from jail after he posted bail and the case eventually dismissed by the court.

Tabay described Ybañez and Cadorna as street pushers and both sold only shabu in Barangay Gairan.

Charges for violating Section 5 of RA 9165 were filed against Cadorna and charges for violating Section 11 were filed against Ybañez yesterday at the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City.    –(FREEMAN)