Cab passengers yield illegal drugs, guns

CEBU, Philippines - Police confiscated illegal drugs and firearms from taxi passengers at a checkpoint while nearly a hundred packs of suspected shabu were seized in a separate buy-bust operation in Lapu-Lapu City.

At a security checkpoint on Tuesday evening in Sitio Suba Pana, Barangay Subabasbas, Basak Police Station operatives arrested Julius Andales, 29; Joseph Bangalo, 20; and Rochel Capuno, 35, who were all onboard a taxi when apprehended.

Senior Police Officer 2 Candido Barinque said the three are residents of Cordova town, Cebu. Andales lives in Sitio Cansapac, Barangay Catarman and Bangalo and Capuno in Barangay Poblacion.

Police confiscated a .45 caliber pistol with four live bullets from Andales and a .55 revolver from Bangalo. The firearms were said to be unlicensed.

Capuno, meanwhile, yielded nine small packs of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, police said.

According to SPO2 Barinque, the three came from Cebu City onboard a cab driven by Jeffrey Mandac, who said he had no idea his passengers were tagging along firearms and drugs with them.

Andales, Bangalo and Capuno are now detained at the Lapu-Lapu Police Station.

In a separate buy-bust operation, around  99 small packs of reported shabu were seized from two persons Monday dawn in Sitio Bagumbayan 2, Barangay Maribago.

Senior Inspector Verniño Noserale, chief of Mactan Police Station, said they arrested Necias Paquibot Jr., 31, and Eric Pangatungan, 37, residents of the said barangay.

A police poseur buyer handed the P200 marked money to Paquibot in exchange for a small sachet of drugs.

Senir Inspector Noserale said 86 small packs were recovered from Paquibot and 12 small sachets from Pangatungan.

Some drug paraphernalia and P400 believed to be proceeds of illegal trade were also recovered from the suspects.

They will be charged with a complaint in relation to RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — (FREEMAN)