Checkpoint nets 2 riders

CEBU, Philippines - Two persons were arrested when the operatives of the Subangdaku Police Station conducted a checkpoint near the Aboitiz Soccer Field along Logarta Street in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City last Wednesday noon.

Elements of the Subangdaku Police led by their station chief Police Senior Inspector Miguel Andeza and his men conducted a checkpoint leading to the arrest of suspects Marlon Valiente, 35, and his backrider Charlemagne Alarde, 35, both residents of Curva, Medellin town but presently residing in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

It was learned that while the police were conducting a checkpoint, they flagged down the suspects after noticing that Alarde was not wearing a helmet.

However, before the suspects stopped at the checkpoint, police saw Valiente throwing something towards the road while Alarde allegedly tried to swallow something in his mouth but the police was quick to grab it from him.

When the police took the said item from Alarde, it was later learned that he was supposed to swallow one small pack of shabu in his mouth while the police were able to recover some shabu paraphernalia which Valiente reportedly threw along the road.

Both suspects were immediately arrested and brought to Subangdaku Police Station pending the filing of charges of illegal drugs against them.

In a another separate operation, Jake Roda and Franquily Umpad, both of legal age, residing in Zone 3, Barangay Mantuyong,  Mandaue City, were arrested by police after being caught in possession of suspected illegal drugs while inside the house of a certain Elioterio Pias.

Pias was the subject of a search warrant served by police and was able to detect the approaching operatives to evade arrest.

The City Intelligence Branch of Mandaue City Police Office led by Police Senior Inspector Hugo Rio Ipong was able to secure a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Teresita Galanida to search the house of Pias for allegedly possessing illegal drugs and paraphernalia based on earlier surveillance and test buys.

Seized from Roda were two pieces of small plastic sachet of suspected shabu and a disposable lighter while a piece of small packet suspected shabu and two tin foils were confiscated from Umpad.

Both suspects are currently detained at the Centro Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges against them. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)