Brgy exec and four others fall in anti-drugs operations

CEBU, Philippines - Five persons including a barangay councilman were arrested in separate anti-illegal drugs operations in the towns of San Fernando and Samboan last Saturday.

In the operation in San Fernando, elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 seized packets of shabu worth P400,000 from four suspects.

The target of the operation, Jovino Rendal, 49, as well as his three cohorts, Dennis Cantiveros, 41; Arnelio Rendal, 45; and Mario Bunghanoy, 35, were arrested outside Rendal’s house in Sitio Taboan, Barangay North Poblacion.

Confiscated from Cantiveros were 11 large packets of shabu while 10 small packets were confiscated from Jovino. Operatives also found two other small packets from Arnelio and one medium packet from Bunghanoy.

The pieces of evidence recovered were taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis.

Jessie Tabanao, spokesperson of the PDEA-7, told The FREEMAN that they received information of Jovino’s rampant selling of shabu last month. After about a month of surveillance, PDEA-7 Director Jigger Montallana ordered the buy-bust.

PDEA communicated with the suspect through an asset.

Tabanao said it was Cantiveros who handed one small elongated packet to the poseur buyer as the cash was received by Jovino who also served as the “cashier”.

A signal was made, which resulted to the arrest of Jovino, who yielded several large packets of shabu, and his cohort Cantiveros.

Aside from the shabu, operatives recovered the P1000 marked money and P1,000.50 in different denominations.

Arnelio and Bunghanoy were arrested not far from the scene. Assorted drug paraphernalia were also recovered.

Tabanao said Jovino was a level two drug pusher who could dispose not more than 200 grams of shabu in a week.

“Kusog sad ni siya kay iyang mga suki naa may taga-Carcar ug Naga,” Tabanao said in a phone interview.

The suspects are now detained at the PDEA-7 stockade.

Charges for violating Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against Jovino and Cantiveros. Additional cases for possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy, both under RA 9165, will be filed, respectively, against Jovino and Cantiveros.

Separate charges for Sections 11 and 12 of RA 9165 will be filed against Arnelio and Bunghanoy.

Two hours earlier, a barangay councilman of Barangay Jumangpas, Balamban was arrested by operatives of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) also in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion last Saturday morning.

One large and one small packet of shabu worth P30,000 were confiscated from Jaime Manolong Fetiluna, married, a resident of Barangay Jumangpas. The seized items were also taken to the crime laboratory for chemical analysis.

Aside from the shabu, operatives also recovered the P500 marked money, a cellular phone, and a brown wallet containing Fetiluna’s professional driver’s license and Sangguniang Barangay membership identification card.

Fetiluna’s arrest was realized after a police asset confirmed his illegal drugs trade in the barangay.

A team of PAIDSOTG headed by deputy chief, Insp. Rogelio Amoroso Jr, then conducted an operation outside the house of Fetiluna’s father-in-law around 10:00 a.m.

Fetiluna was arrested right after he handed one small packet of shabu in exchange for P500 cash from a poseur buyer.

SPO1 Francis Alen Villamor of PAIDSOTG said Fetiluna is new to the illegal activity, but could dispose of two large packets of shabu worth P50,000 in a week.

“Wala man kunoy apil iyang ugangan ani…siya ra gyud,” Villamor said in a phone interview.

Villamor said the packets of shabu were reportedly intended for the annual fiesta celebration of Barangay Poblacion yesterday as demand was expected to increase.

Operatives said a person whom Fetiluna refused to disclose financed his illegal business. The shabu reportedly came from Cebu City.

“Among target gyud ani ron ang financer na pero padayon pa among TI,” Villamor said.

Fetiluna is now temporarily detained at the Minglanilla police stockade as charges are being prepared against him.  (FREEMAN)