2 yield drugs, gun in Lapu-Lapu ops

CEBU, Philippines - Police seized more than P70,000 worth of illegal drugs from two men in separate operations in Lapu-Lapu City in two nights.

Last Friday, Roldan Baring of Barangay Mactan was arrested by the police at around 7 p.m. in a buy-bust operation led by Police Chief Inspector Conrado Manatad of Mactan Police Station.

Meanwhile, Jose Chris Taneo, 36, a tricycle driver and resident of Sitio Basak-Eskwelahan, Barangay Basak, was also arrested around 7 p.m. on Thursday during a security checkpoint initiated by the team of Police Inspector Alcon Escusora of Basak-Marigondon Police Station.

According to Manatad, five medium packs and another small sachet of suspected shabu were confiscated from Baring's possession after the latter transacted with the police poseur buyer.

Police recovered the P200 marked money from the operation.

Manatad said Baring was under the local police's watchlist being one of the top ten drug personalities in the area.

Separately, meanwhile, Taneo tried to evade police arrest while authorities conducted the security check at an intersection road in Barangay Basak, said Escusora.

Escusora said Taneo may have sensed police presence, thus attempting to quickly flee. Still, the police later on collared Taneo after a brief chase.

Twenty-five small sachets of suspected shabu stored in a small coin purse were confiscated from Taneo. He also reportedly yielded a .22 caliber revolver.

Baring is now detained in the holding cell of Mactan Police Station while Taneo is detained at Basak Police Station.

They will face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Aside of the drug case, Taneo will also face a separate case for illegal possession of firearms.  (FREEMAN)