P21.2 million cocaine seized in Quezon

CAMP GUILLERMO NAKAR, Philippines — Four kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of P21.2 million were seized in a drug bust in Infanta, Quezon on Friday.

Fisherman Aldrin Taharan, 48, a native of Nagcarlan, Laguna, was arrested after selling sachets of the illegal drug to undercover agents in Purok Gitna, Barangay Dinahican, Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon police director, said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, said the seized drugs could be among those recovered by a group of fishermen last April. Twenty-eight kilos of cocaine valued at P200 million were found in a plastic container retrieved in the waters off Perez town.

Taharan reportedly repacked the cocaine he recovered and asked his customers to endorse him to other buyers especially foreigners.

“The suspect... opted to sell it for P1.5 million per kilo,” De Guzman said. 

Drug suspect slain

In Lucena City, police said electrician Emilio Calayo, 50, drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to undercover agents in Purok Sampaguita 1, Barangay 10 at around 4 a.m. also on Friday.

Sachets of shabu worth P9,000, a gun and marked money were reportedly recovered from the fatality. 

‘High-value’ targets nabbed

Meanwhile, in Rizal, police recovered 100 grams of shabu worth P680,000 from Jeremy Mandap, alias Manok, in Barangay San Juan, Cainta on Friday.

In Sorsogon City, 15 grams of shabu valued at P60,000 were reportedly recovered from Misael Larosa, 48, chairman of Barangay Sampaloc, who was arrested in Purok 6.

Police said Larosa, who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in 2016, was ranked third on the drug watchlist in Sorsogon.

Evangelino Dizon of radio station dzTC based in Tarlac City was arrested after a raid on his house in Barangay San Isidro reportedly yielded five sachets of shabu, 12 sachets of dried marijuana leaves and various types of ammunition also on Friday.

Dennis de Guzman, the alleged leader of the Amang drug ring operating in Pangasinan, was arrested in Barangay Salay, Mangaldan on Thursday.

‘Narco’ village chiefs

In Abra, 14 barangay officials in President Duterte’s narco list went to the Cordillera regional police office and vowed to support the anti-drug campaign.

Abra Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos said the barangay officials committed to be ”part of the solution” to the drug menace.

The village officials – five captains and nine kagawads – also underwent voluntary drug test to prove they are no longer into illegal drugs. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Eva Visperas, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao