4 men nabbed in Biliran drug bust

MANILA, Philippines - Four men, including a suspected owner of a drug den, were nabbed during a buy bust in the province of Biliran, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Friday. 

Nabbed during the sting operation were  Nataniel Toleroso, 28, a suspected drug den owner, of Barangay Rilis, Calubian; and Brian Bernard Zamora, 32,of  PI Garcia P. Inosentes, Naval, Biliran, who is ranked Number 2 in the list of targeted drug personalities in Eastern Visayas.

The three other men arrested were Frankly Mades, 32; Ryan Topacio, 30; and Jose Tambis, 33.

Reports showed that  on Tuesday,  around 10:15 p.m., operatives of PDEA Regional Office 8 conducted a buy-bust  which resulted in the arrest of Toleroso and Zamora after they sold methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, to a poseur-buyer in PI Garcia, Naval, Biliran.

Mades, Topacio and Tambis, who were present inside the den, were also apprehended.

Seized during the operation were two pieces of plastic sachets containing more or less eight grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P64,000, various drug paraphernalia, a mobile phone, and buy-bust money consisting of P1,000 and P500 marked bills.

Toleroso and Zamora will be facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Additional cases for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), of RA 9165 will also be filed against Toleroso, while Mades, Topacio and Tambis will be charged for violation of Section 7 (Visitors/Employee of a Drug Den).