5 fall: P600T worth of shabu seized in Toledo drugbust

CEBU, Philippines - Five people including a woman were arrested and over P605,000 worth of illegal drugs were confiscated in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Luray II, Toledo City on Sunday.

The subject of the operation, Dennis “Tele” Lapa, however, managed to escape while his live-in partner Jessica Huruela, 30, was among those who were arrested.

Other suspects — Apol Carnice, 28; Ejerson Edoloverio, 32; Romeo Tomarong, 28; and Rolando Macapaz, 36, — were caught repacking shabu and were also placed under arrest.

After receiving and confirming reports on Lapa’s illegal drug trade, operatives of Toledo City Police Station led by Inspector Jovito Labra, the station’s deputy chief, arranged the operation.

The police proceeded to Lapa’s house at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday and, through a police decoy, supposedly asked for a pack of shabu worth P200 from Lapa.

Huruela was the one who took the buy-bust money and gave it to Lapa. Lapa, in turn, gave his live-in partner a pack of shabu to be supposedly given to the buyer.

When Huruela went back to give the illegal drugs, the poseur-buyer held her hand and arrested her. Lapa reportedly saw Huruela’s arrest and ran towards the backdoor, eventually escaping from the police.

The police failed to catch up with Lapa but they spotted Carnice, Edoloverio, Tomarong and Macapaz inside a small room in the process of repacking shabu, and arrested them.

The police further found four large packs and four small packs of suspected shabu in the room.

The confiscated drugs weighed 55 grams and was valued at P605,000, as per Dangerous Drugs Board estimate.

Lapa, although at large, and Huruela will be charged for illegal drug sale and possession while the four other suspects will also face illegal drug possession charges. — (FREEMAN)