Four men arrested for drug possession

CEBU, Philippines - Several packets of shabu worth P40,000 and two firearms with ammunitions were seized from a man in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Branch last night in Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion.

Rolito "Roy Bukog" Osabel did not resist the arrest after he saw the operatives who cordoned his residence.

Two large packets and 36 small packets of shabu, a .45 pistol with seven bullets, a .22 Magnum revolver with seven bullets, a suppressor, assorted drug paraphernalia and P400 buy-bust money were seized from Osabel.

Illegal drugs confiscated were taken to the Philippine Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis while the firearms were also subjected to cross-matching examination.

Operatives immediately conducted a test buy following reports of Osabel's drug trade in the area.

After the shabu was handed to the poseur-buyer in exchange of the P400 marked money, Osabel was arrested.

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, PIB chief, said that Osabel  could dispose 25 grams of shabu in a week.

Osabel was 17 when he was convicted for the crime of robbery in which he was committed to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for 15 years. He was released from jail last 1995.

Osabel admitted that he once was badly behaved but was already changed when he was released from jail.

"Dala ra to sa akong kabatan-on akong nabuhat pero buotan na ko karon nalipay ko nga napriso ko kay nakahuman kog elementary," he said.

He, however, refused to comment on the drugs seized from him and alleged that the firearms were left by someone who he refused to name.

Charges for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs will be filed against Osabel today.

Meanwhile, Liloan police arrested four men at Purok Agbate, Lower Looc, Barangay Calero, Liloan for possessing packets of shabu and firearms.

Suspects were identified as Junie Noval and Bryan Mahusay, 25, of Barangay Maslog; Alfredo Catamoso, 39, of Barangay Poblacion, and Joel Aliposo, 38, of Barangay Calero.

Confiscated from them were two big and 12 small packets of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, P200 marked money, and a .45 pistol with a magazine loaded with four bullets.

Police led by Chief Insp. Jose Liddawa Jr. went to the scene and conducted a buy-bust operation against Noval but amid the transaction Noval sensed the presence of operatives and attempted to elude arrest.

A brief chase followed and police saw the other three suspects in the scene which resulted to their arrest.

Criminal charges are set to be filed today against the arrested persons.— (FREEMAN)