Almost P3M shabu seized

CEBU, Philippines -

In Cebu City, shabu worth at least P2 million was confiscated from two men who tried to avoid a checkpoint in Osmeña Street, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City late Thursday night.

Police tried to flag down Marvin Daan and French Villanueva, both 22 and residents of Cebu City, who were on board a motorcycle but the two reportedly tried to escape.

Police caught up with them eventually and the suspects pulled off at the side of the road.

Senior Inspector Allan Rosario said a check of the suspects’ motorcycle yielded an eco-bag placed in front of the steering wheel. Inside the bag was a large pack of a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, which weighed 200 grams.

“Duda ko na basin ila ning i-deliver ang kaning nakuha nato nila,” Rosario said.

The two men reportedly came from Mandaue City with a plan to sell the shabu in Barangay Pasil in Cebu City.

In an interview with reporters yesterday, Daan and Villanueva said it was the first time they engaged in the illegal drugs business.

Villanueva said they were just waiting for a text message from a contact who would tell them where the shabu would be delivered. He said they did not have an idea that the package would cost P2 million and that they were just paid P500 each for the delivery. 

Daan, for his part, said he has never used illegal drugs.

The two are now detained at the Mabolo Police Station.

Meanwhile, in the southern town of Alcoy, police arrested a man and a woman in separate buy-bust operation in Barangay Pugalo last Thursday morning. Shabu worth P767,000 was seized during the operations.

Gullas “Gob” Jumamil and Jane “Tisay” Mosqueda were arrested after they sold a pack of shabu to the poseur-buyers.

Elements of the Alcoy police and the Regional Intelligence Unit confiscated 66 small packs and five medium packs of suspected shabu weighing 65 grams. They also confiscated drug paraphernalia; cash amounting to P1,100; a .38 caliber revolver; and two motorcycles from the two suspects.

The operation was hatched following a series of surveillance operations.

The Alcoy police have filed cases against Jumamil and Mosqueda for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Priority

 At the Capitol yesterday, Governor Hilario Davide III has asked the newly installed director of the Police Regional Office-7 to make the crusade against illegal drugs a priority.

Davide made the request when Director Manual Gaerlan paid him a courtesy visit yesterday.

Davide said he is confident that the provincial government and PRO-7 can work together in the fight against illegal drugs.

Davide made the same request to Gaerlan’s predecessor, Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas, who has been promoted as chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in northern Luzon.

“We have the same line of thinking. He (Gaerlan) said he will continue the programs of General Bañas, not only drugs but the criminality in general... I assured him of our support, Davide told reporters.

Before he formally relinquished his post, Bañas said that during his term, PRO-7 was able to seize suspected illegal drugs worth around P307 million from at least 4,892 police operations, which resulted to the arrest of at least 6,679 individuals.  — (FREEMAN)