Four fall for drugs

CEBU, Philippines -  Police arrested four people and seized nearly 150 packs of shabu in different anti-drug operations in Cebu City.

Yesterday morning, couple Leonito and Thelma Doblado, both 39, and allegedly level two drug pushers were arrested after they yielded some P141,600 worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation conducted in their house in Barangay Cambinocot.

Operatives of the Regional Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG-7) led by Inspector Joey Bicoy confiscated from the couple one large, three medium and two small packs of suspected shabu, P300 buy-bust money, and P650 believed to be proceeds of the illegal drug activity.

Bicoy said that the couple, who were subjected to two-week surveillance, are allegedly known drug pushers in Barangay Kalunasan and in other mountain barangays in the city.

“Bale naa ni sila’y sari-sari store nga maoy gihimo nila isip front sa ilang pagpamaligya og drugs so kung naa gani gusto mopalit adto ra pud sa ilang tindahan,” said Bicoy.

Suspects claimed they were new in the drug trade, but police thought otherwise as they have been under surveillance for many times already.

“Sa akong tan-aw ani dugay na gyud ni sila kay dinagko naman gyud ilang ipangbaligya,” said Bicoy.

The couple could dispose of at least 200 grams of shabu per week, as further reported.

“Sa amoa pud nga pagsukit-sukit sa ilang mga kasilinganan, kampati na kuno ni ang manag-tiayon kay naa man kuno ni sila’y protector,” Bicoy further disclosed, refusing to name the alleged protectors pending investigation.

Bicoy said the drug supply came from Cebu City and was delivered to the couple by someone they also refused to name.

In a separate operation, Concordia Dariman, 59, and a mother of seven was arrested after she was seized with at least 56 packs of suspected shabu in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas.

Mambaling Police were armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises when they raided Dariman’s house in Cabreros Street.

Dariman is allegedly a mother of seven, one of whom is a special child, and has no job to support them. She denied the accusation, saying she had no idea where the shabu come from.

The suspect admitted though that in 1987, she was engaged in drug peddling but she stopped, fearing she might get caught. Her son is still in jail for the same offense.

Meanwhile, another level two drug pusher, Carlito “Carling” Laborera was arrested with P23,400 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tejero on Thursday night.

Laborera was seized with a small brown envelope containing 78 packs of suspected shabu, P300 buy-bust money, and P1,200 cash.

Charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are now being prepared against the suspects, who are currently being detained temporarily. — Bryner L. Diaz, Adabel M. Borinaga and Patrice Kate Rebuta, USJ-R MassComm Interns/NSA (FREEMAN)