PDEA arrests four illegal "drug pushers"

CEBU, Philippines - Four suspected drug pushers were arrested by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Tunga, Barangay Tanke, Talisay City Thursday afternoon.

PDEA was acting on a complaint of a concerned citizen about the illegal drug trade of the suspects, Dan August Racaza, 19, Hermocillo Macaraya, 51, Alot Osok, 45, and Juvy Macaraya, 33.

A team led by Intelligence Officer 3 David Mark Maramba then conducted an operation at the residence of Racaza.

Maramba said it was Racaza, assisted by Hermocillo, who personally handed two small packs of shabu to a poseur buyer in exchanged for P300 cash.

Operatives immediately arrested the two after Racaza handed the shabu to the poseur buyer. However, Juvy arrest and fought back.

A brief commotion ensued and operatives eventually subdued Juvy.

Recovered from Racaza’s possession were four large packs of shabu worth P30,000 each and another six small packs worth P150 each. 

Seized from Hermocillo six large packs of shabu amounting P180,000 and another two small packs from Osok.

The packs of suspected shabu were sent to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory 7 for chemical analysis.

 Maramba said Racaza was the subject of the operation and the arrest of Hermocillo, who happened to be in the PDEA watch list, was only incidental.

Racaza is a level two drug pusher who could dispose 200 grams of shabu amounting P1.2 million per week.

Charges for violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects who are detained at the PDEA-7 stockade.

Meanwhile, Regional Trial Court Judge Mienrado Paredes of Branch 13 will soon resolve the issue of whether the arrest of Ritz Villahermosa, the pharmacist who was accused of selling nubaine to the police, was legal.

Paredes also directed the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group ( RAIDSOTG) to release the Kia Rio (YJG 245) that Villahermosa allegedly used during the drug deal as the vehicle is owned by Villahermosa’s brother Raymund Villacarlos.

During the pre-trial conference, the defense questioned the legality of Villahermosa’s arrest. Villahermosa said the target of the operation was a certain Maricel, also known as Inday.

“The defense theorized that this is a case of palit ulo, meaning if a person is arrested, the latter would be asked to pint out other persons and arrest him or her,” pre-trial order reads.

Villahermosa also questioned why the police releases Maricel and did not file a case against her. (FREEMAN)