13 fall in drug buy-busts; close to P500,000 seized

CEBU, Philippines - At least P479,000 in total worth of illegal drugs were seized by the police in separate anti-drug operations in Cebu which resulted in the arrest of 13 people, including a known drug personality.

Manolo Salvador Jr., 32, alias Jun Conejos, a known drug personality in Barangay San Roque was arrested yesterday morning by the elements of the Waterfront Police Station.

The police were armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Judge Wilfredo Navarro. Seized from Salvador were 14 packs of shabu with an estimated street value of P50,000.

Waterfront Police Station chief, Senior Inspector Wayne Magbanua, said the suspect was placed under surveillance for three weeks. He said to be a level three drug pusher in the barangay.

The suspect is now detained at the police station while a criminal complaint for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is being prepared for filing against him on Monday.

Joint operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-7 and Danao City Police Station also seized P117,000 worth of shabu from a suspected level 2 drug pusher in Da-nao City during buy-bust operation yesterday.

The suspect, Jose Arjie Tabla, however, eluded arrest.

Police Inspector Joey Bicoy, team leader of the operation, said the suspect noticed their presence and was very quick to escape.

The police, however, arrested Jessica Lonzon, Allan Laurente, Jonathan Buyno, Rexmae Castillo, Alejandro Castillo and Rodillo Oral.

“Kauban nato nga police nagpanggap nga buyer, and upon exchange nag-declare nata nga member ta sa police. Naa dayon nisinggit nga naay police ug nanagan sila. Siguradong nasamad to ang nakaikyas kay naa may barbed wire didto sa ilang gisakaan,” Bicoy told The FREEMAN.

Members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, Provincial Intelligence Branch and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 also scored in four separate buy-bust operations.

Two were arrested in Carcar City and another two in Sogod town, one in Aloguinsan, and another in Sibonga.

In Carcar City, Melquiades “Jr” Amistad and Darios Canaya, residents of Barangay Liburon were arrested Friday afternoon in possession of 26.5 grams of shabu having an estimated value of P 312, 700.

In Sogod, Cebu, Tato Nimbrod Regala, 35, of San Isidro Poblacion, and companion Ramon Pepito Jr., 30, of St. Jude Poblacion were arrested by the town police Friday morning.

The suspects were arrested after handing a piece of plastic sachet containing shabu to an undercover policeman.

Recovered from their possession were 13 pieces of small plastic sachets. The police also seized a caliber .45 pistol from Pepito.

In Aloguinsan, Cebu, Marlon “Undo”Quijano, 32, of Sitio Bliss, Barangay Borbon was arrested by the town police operatives in coordination with PDEA-7.

Quijano was arrested at around 7 p.m. during a buy-bust operation with Senior Police Officer 1 Eliseo Paquit acting as poseur-buyer.

Recovered from Quijano were one large plastic sachet, 9 small plastic sachets, and P600 cash. A caliber .38 revol-ver was also seized from him.

In Sibonga, Cebu, Ernand Fernandez, 28, a driver and a resident of Barangay Sabang was caught selling a pack of shabu worth P200 to members of the town police station.

The police recovered four small sachets of shabu and P650 cash.— Bryner L. Diaz, Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Samuelle Joyrin C. Caing, USJ-R MassComm Intern/FPL (FREEMAN)