Jaguar ‘hitman’ arrested, 21 others fall in buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged hitman and drug courier of slain suspected drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz and a minor were among the 22 drug suspects arrested by the authorities in separate buy-bust operations in Cebu over the weekend.

Jerome Gonzaga, 28, a resident of Sitio Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, was arrested Sunday morning in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City.

Chief Inspector Genilo Veraque of Subangdaku Police Station said they got information that Gonzaga is an alleged member of the group of notorious drug personality Jaguar and was involved in the March 10, 2014 heist of an LBC courier outlet in Barangay Taboan, Cebu City.

Gonzaga was identified by an LBC staffer as one of the two robbers based on the security camera footage. At least P40,000 cash was taken in that robbery.

However, Gonzaga denied the allegations.

Veraque said they will conduct deeper investigation into the matter.

“Ato gyud sutaon tanan mga kalambigitan sa mga dinakpan,” he said.

Subangdaku police led by Veraque also arrested Arnulfo Miel, 32, of Barangay Tipolo in Mandaue City; Romy Ramas, 31, of Barangay Ermita in Cebu City; Argesa Pegarido, 29, of Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City; Liezl Saraum, of Barangay Cogon in Cebu City; and Jahara Peromingan, of Barangay Cansojong in Talisay City.

Minor

A teenager and 14 other drug personalities were arrested in two separate entrapment operations in Sitio Panaghiusa in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City Saturday evening.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 personnel nabbed the 17-year-old boy inside an alleged drug den in the same barangay.

The ant-narcotics agency seized from the minor at least 15 packs of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P90,000.

Also arrested were Christine Navaja, 29, of Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City; Mario Nemeño Jr., 27, of Minglanilla, Cebu; Anthony Andrew Mabatid, 36, of Minglanilla;  Jerameel Wagas, 37, of Compostela, Cebu; John Mark Labrador, 23, of Basak San Nicolas in Cebu City; and Marces Garces, 28, of Cabancalan in Mandaue City.

In a separate operation in the same barangay, authorities also arrested an alleged drug den owner Giovanni Catipay, 41. Recovered from his possession were 18 packs of suspected shabu worth P108,000.

Also arrested inside Catipay’s drug den were Christopher Catipay, 39, of Duljo-Fatima; Ramee Estrera, 40, also from Duljo-Fatima; Reniel Lim, 33,  of Basak Pardo in Cebu City; Martin Cuava, 38, of Subangdaku in Mandaue City; Marvin Buenavista, 27, of Basak San Nicolas in Cebu City; John Red  Vildosala, 31, of Pardo, Cebu City; Jeffrel Mabitad, 23, also from Pardo.

PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar said the operations were hatched based on a tip they received from an informant about the presence of alleged drug dens in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.

She said the minor and Catipay were placed under surveillance for two weeks.

The two drug dens, which are just a few meters away from each other, were believed to be visited by drug personalities from different towns in Cebu.

 “Inyong makita sa mga nadakpan nga ang ilang mga suki dili ra taga didto. Naa’y taga Mandaue, Minglanilla, naa man sad gani taga Compostela. Modayo gyod ang uban didto,” Albiar said, adding that Catipay and the minor might have the same drug supplier.

Both suspects could allegedly dispose of up to 100 grams of suspected shabu every week based on PDEA-7’s assessment, she said.

In an interview, both Catipay and the minor denied involvement in the illegal drug trade.

 “Dili to akoa. Istambay ra ko didto. Wala ko ana, giapil rako nila,” said the 17-year-old suspect.

Meanwhile in Tabogon town, 35-year-old Diosdado Rosales, a resident of Barangay Mabuli, was arrested in a buy-bust operation.

Tabogon police led by Senior Inspector Welther Dinopol Grapa recovered from him a small sachet of suspected shabu worth P600. — Ermida Q. Moradas, Rowena D. Capistrano, and Maria Yula M. Pasaol (FREEMAN)