9 nabbed; over P800T shabu seized

CEBU, Philippines -  Nearly P1 million worth of illegal drugs were seized from nine persons including an alleged level one drug pusher and a minor who were arrested in separate police operations in Cebu City recently.

In Barangay Tejero, Philip Montesclaros, 32, was arrested after suspected shabu amounting to P800,000 was seized from him in a buy-bust operation on Thursday.

After verifying the suspect’s illegal drug activities, personnel of the City Intelligence Branch and City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group proceeded to the suspect’s house in Sitio Sampaguita, Villagonzalo 2 and conducted the raid.

The police swooped down on Montesclaros after he sold a pack of shabu worth 200 to a police decoy.

At least 15 packs of the suspected drugs were found in his room.

Inspector Gomersendo Mandawe, deputy chief of CIB, said the suspect was caught repacking shabu when he was arrested.

Police described Montesclaros as a level one drug pusher who can dispose of at least half a kilo of shabu every week.

The suspect is now detained and will face charges for illegal drug sale and possession.

In Barangay Luz, CAIDSTOG personnel led by Senior Inspector Eunil Avergonzado swooped down on a suspected drug den in sitio Sto. Niño and arrested seven persons.

The police first arrested Ramil Misterio, 44, the subject of the buy-bust operation who sold a pack of shabu to a CAIDSTOG operative who acted as poseur-buyer. Two other shabu packs were retrieved from the suspect.

Misterio’s companion, Fritz Sanchez, was also arrested after yielding a pack of shabu and a cal. 38 revolver.

The police also rescued the minor and arrested five other suspects who were caught inside a drug den allegedly operated by Misterio where police recovered packs of dried marijuana leaves.

The suspects were identified as Victor Granda, Joe Jen Carrido, Eddie Quirante, Alfie Sabas, and Divina Guana who all tried to escape.

Three packs of dried marijuana leaves were reportedly recovered from Guana, two small packs from Quirante, two packs from the minor, and a pack each from the five other suspects.

The police also recovered an improvised shotgun from Quirante.

Avergonzado said Misterio was placed under a month of surveillance.  (FREEMAN)