Female drug suspect arrested with P7.1 million shabu

CEBU, Philippines — At least P7.1 million worth of shabu were confiscated by the operatives of Waterfront Police Station during a buy-bust operation early morning on Friday, July 5, in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay San Roque, Cebu City.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Amparo Gaviola, 48, alias Farah, a resident of Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City. Police Major John Yango, Waterfront Police Station chief, said Gaviola was also arrested in 2016 for the same offense but was released from jail five years later.

Yango could not categorically answer why Gaviola was released from jail but surmised that she may have availed of a plea bargaining agreement or applied for probation.

Authorities said they had placed the suspect under a three-week surveillance after her name surfaced as one of the underlings of alias Daling, a big time drug supplier they arrested earlier.

“So, since nakakuha ta’g information regarding ani, nasubay pud nato kadtong unang nadakop nato si alyas  ‘Daling’, nasubay nato na-mention ni nga ngalana,” Yango said.

“Prior pa ato kadtong na’y nadakpan namo nga si Alyas ‘Daling’, usa to sa iyang source. Bale kaning nadakpan nato ganihang kadlawn, according to the information, mao ni siyay usa sa mga bodigera or usa sa tighipos sa kaning kung naay bag-ong abot nga shabu," Yango added.

Authorities seized from Gaviola a bundle of cash worth P50,000 used as buy-bust money; 10 large packs of shabu; two medium packs; and other personal belongings.

A criminal complaint for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspect before the city prosecutor’s office. – Yves Mae B. Salinas/FPL (FREEMAN)