But big fish gets away: P2M in drugs seized

CEBU, Philippines - Police confiscated P2 million worth of drugs from the rented house of an alleged level one drug pusher last Wednesday night in Palma Street, Barangay San Roque.

However, the alleged pusher Ronald Miramontes, alias "Onad", managed to escape after the buy-bust operation.

The City Intelligence Branch instead arrested Hernando Ponso, 34, who was also present during the buy-bust operation and is a suspected accomplice of Miramontes.

A CIB operative transacted with Miramontes to buy a big pack of shabu inside his house. Ponso was allegedly with Miramontes when the transaction took place. When Miramontes realized that he was transacting with a poseur-buyer he quickly made his getaway.

Policemen went after him but he outran them after he jumped into a creek and then disappeared into a slum area.

Ponso did not escape and was arrested by the police.

After a search police recovered eight big packs of shabu in Miramontes' house. They also found a weighing scale, a .25 cal. pistol, several .25 cal. magazines and an Ingram automatic pistol.

Superintendent Romeo Santander of CIB said before the buy-bust was conducted his office received numerous reports of the suspect's drug activities around the area.

Miramontes has no permanent address and changes residence every now and then. Cebu City police admitted they are having trouble locating the suspect.

Since Chief Superintendent Prodencio "Tom" Bañas assumed as director of Police Regional Office-7 he has declared an all-out war against illegal drugs. This month alone the Cebu City Police Office seized a total of P5 million worth of illegal drugs.  — /BRP (FREEMAN)