Alleged drug pushers arrested in Talisay, Carcar operations

CEBU, Philippines - More than P200,000 worth of shabu were seized by operatives yesterday from four suspected drug pushers in separate drugs operations in the cities of Talisay and Carcar.

In Carcar City, the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group arrested two suspected drug pushers during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay Liburon past 9:00 in the morning.

Robert Padin, 33, of Barangay Poblacion I and Marife Terakura, 43, were arrested inside the house of Terakura’s live-in partner, Ranillo Santinitigan.

Santinitigan, who was the subject of the operation, eluded the arrest after he noticed the presence of the operatives.

Confiscated from the suspects were five large and 60 small packets of shabu worth P120,000; P2,000 marked money and P900, believed to be proceeds of illegal drugs transactions.

Insp. Joey Bicoy, team leader of the task group, said they have monitored Terakura and Santinitigan for a couple of weeks before they carried out the operation through a poseur-buyer who made the transaction.

Upon sensing the presence of the operatives, Santinitigan and Padin rushed out of the house but only Padin was arrested.

According to the operatives, Santinitigan is a level two drug pusher who could dispose more than 200 grams of shabu in a week. An operation was conducted two weeks ago and Santinitigan’s name surfaced during the investigation.

Operatives believe that Santinitigan is also operation in neighboring southern towns.

Padin and Terakura are now detained at the Police Regional Office-7 stockade pending the filing of criminal cases against them.

Liburon Barangay Captain Alberto Lawas hopes the arrest of the two suspects would lessen the transaction of illegal drugs in his barangay, which he said has been made a hub of illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, in Talisay City, operatives of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group arrested two alleged drug pushers by virtue of search warrants issued by Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10.

Search warrants for violation of Sec. 11 of RA 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were served against Jane Surigao, 36 and Jestoni Obrero, 24, who were arrested in simultaneous operations in Barangay Tangke around 4:30 in the morning.

Recovered from the suspects were two large and three medium packets of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, and P1, 630 cash.

The team primarily served the warrant at the house of a certain Mando, who was the subject of the operation. But Mando eluded the arrest and the operatives instead arrested Obrero, Mando’s cohort. Operatives then served another warrant to Surigao.

“Wa na namo magukod kay nisuot sa dikit-dikit nga mga balay unya lapukon kaayo ngitngit pa gyud kay kadlawon pa man gud to. (We were not able to run after the Mando since he ran to closely-attached houses and it was muddy and dark at the same time because it was still dawn),” Armando Labora said.

 Mando and Surigao are both reportedly level two drug pushers.

The suspects are now detained at the Consolacion police stockade.

All illegal drugs confiscated from the two operations were submitted to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug, Cebu City for chemical analysis. — (FREEMAN)