3 arrested, 2 minors rescued: Pusher dead in raid

CEBU, Philippines – A suspected drug pusher was killed while three persons were arrested and two minors believed to be drug runners were rescued after the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the Cebu Police Provincial Office implemented a search warrant yesterday morning in Barangay Macaas, Catmon town.

Zaldy Bravo, alias “Kabaw”, the subject of the search warrant, was killed after he opened fire at PAIDSOTG and Catmon police operatives who came to serve the search warrant. He was declared dead on arrival at the Sogod District Hospital after he suffered several gunshot wounds in his leg.

Salome Chan Torbiso, Bravo’s live-in-partner; Anthony Arizo Grape, Bravo’s henchman and Racquel Capote, 19, Grape’s live-in-partner; were arrested by the police but two minors, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, believed to be Bravo’s runners, were rescued by the police. 

Senior Inspector Leo Logroño, Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group team leader, said that past 6 a.m. yesterday they implemented the search warrant of Bravo’s house.

The search warrant was issued by Judge Wilfredo Navarro of the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Cebu City.

Logroño said that after they opened the door Bravo pulled out a .45 cal. pistol and fired it at the police. The policemen fired back and hit Bravo’s legs.

Torbiso, Grape and Capote allegedly scrambled outside the house but they were collared by pursuing policemen. Torbiso and Grape were allegedly seen by the police repacking suspected shabu with Bravo early morning yesterday.

The two minors were rescued after they were seen running away from the house after the exchange of gunfire.

Torbiso refused to comment when interviewed by The FREEMAN but Grape said that he was in his house when the police implemented the search warrant and was just surprised when he was arrested.

Capote said that he was in Bravo’s house but also said she had nothing to do with the selling of illegal drugs.

The minor boy said that he and the minor girl, who is his cousin, were approached by Bravo and Torbiso offering to spend for their education if they worked for them as helpers.

However the boy admitted that Bravo would sometimes force him to run drugs for him.

“Mapugos na lang ko kay kung dili ko mosugot iya kung itukmod. Gikuha ra man mi niya kay pahumanon kuno mi’g eskwela pero mao na man to among trabaho,” the boy said.

The minors will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for proper intervention.

The police recovered a large pack, 12 medium packs and 10 small packs of suspected shabu weighing 90 grams and valued more than P1 million. They also seized drug paraphernalia and the .45 cal. pistol Bravo used.

Logroño added that the slain suspect claimed to be a former member of the New People’s Army and was also held responsible for extortion activities in the area.

In the past he was convicted for possession and sale of illegal drugs and served his sentence at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City but after his release from prison last year he went back to selling drugs. — /BRP (FREEMAN)