Pushers fall in buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged Level 1 drug pusher was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by a joint team of the Regional Special Operations Group, Regional Police Intelligence Unit- Regional Intelligence Division 7, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Borbon town yesterday.

The suspect, Romeo “Kokoy” Rivera, a resident of the town, was placed under surveillance days before the bust was hatched. He was arrested around 3 a.m. Friday right after he handed a piece of plastic sachet containing shabu over to the poseur buyer.

Authorities recovered three big plastic packs, eight medium plastic packs, and 40 small plastic packs from Rivera.

The items were forwarded to the PNP Crime Laboratory for forensic examination.

Aside from the shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia and P3,012 cash believed to be proceeds of the drug trade were also confiscated from Rivera.

Rivera is now under the custody of the RSOG at the Camp Sergio Osmeña in Cebu City.

Sr./Supt. Conrad Capa, RSOG Director for Operations, said Rivera’s arrest is another proof of their continuing efforts to curb the illegal drugs trade in the region.

Capa said their primary targets are those that operate in the streets because it is reportedly the easier way to lessen illegal drugs.

“We would rather concentrate in the street level pushing because it is easier and users are having connections with these peddlers,” Capa said.

This does not mean, however, that they are losing sight of the bigger targets, that is, the drug lords.

“The bigger ones, the bigger fish are more difficult to catch but a special operation is conducted for them,” Capa said.

Meanwhile, in Cebu City, shabu worth P450,000 was confiscated in separate buy bust operations in Barangays Calamba and Barangay Pulangbato.

In the operation in Pulangbato, elements of the City Intelligence Branch confiscated at least 15 big packets of shabu worth P400,000 from a certain Ronald Tumulak at around 5 a.m. yesterday.

Tumulak reportedly eluded arrest when he sensed the presence of authorities before the bust was consummated. Supt. Romeo Santader, CIB chief, said Tumulak is categorized as a Level 1 drug pusher as he could sell 350 grams of shabu in a week.

Santander said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  and the National Bureau of Investigation also hatched operations against Tumulak but the latter reportedly always eluded arrest.

In Barangay Calamba, authorities arrested Dennis Taboada, 34, and confiscated from him a medium pack of shabu worth P50,000.

The operation was conducted in A. Lopez Street at around 5 p.m. by the City Anti-illegal Drug Task Force  led by Chief Insp. Eunil Avergonzado.

Taboada is a Level 2 drug pusher who could dispose of at least 250 grams of shabu per week.

Police will be filing charges for RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 against Taboada. He is currently detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade. – Samuelle Joyrin Caing, USJ-R Masscom Intern and Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMO (FREEMAN)