7 fall in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - Assorted firearms and several packs of shabu worth P20,000 were confiscated by the operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) in a buy-bust operation Thursday evening in Sitio San Isidro, Barangay Poblacion, Sogod.

Operatives arrested seven persons, including a relative of Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, who was caught having a pot session in the house of Rodel Armilla, 32.

Aside from Rodel, also arrested were his nephew, Niño James Armilla, 25; Comendador’s relative, Nazareno Pricillas, 22; Jay Christian Ramos, 32; El June Enriquez, 31; Sergio Delos Santos, 31 and Adam Caballes, 36.

Comendador said that Rodel and Niño James are the core members of the group.

“I know these guys and ako mismo ang nag-recruit og informants for the operation,” Comendador said in a press conference.

Confiscated were 31 small packs and one large pack of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, a .38 revolver loaded with five bullets, a .22 magnum revolver loaded with six bullets, a 9mm KG9 submachine pistol with two magazines and 15 bullets, a suppressor, a cellular phone, a notebook containing list of collectibles of the suspects and a wig.

The seized drugs and firearms were brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis and ballistic examination.

Operatives led by SPO1 Francis Alen Villamor planned the operation after they received several and constant complaints on the illegal drugs activity of the suspects.

Sr. Insp. Leo Logroño, deputy chief of the PIB, said it was Rodel who received the P500 buy-bust money and Niño James handed one small packet of shabu to the poseur buyer.

After Rodel and Niño James were nabbed, Pricillas, Ramos, Enriquez, Delos Santos and Caballes who were allegedly having pot session were also arrested.

 Police said the Armillas can dispose of at least 25 grams of shabu in a week.  The source of their supply is Danao City and their market includes Sogod, Borbon and Bogo City.

 â€œWe are yet to check if suspects were involved in street crimes as well as in the three successive shooting incidents in Carmen town,” Comendador said.

In a separate interview, Rodel denied the allegation and refused to comment further.

For his part, Pricillas said they were just eating at that time when operatives arrived and arrested them.

Charges for violating Sections 12 and 15 of Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against Ramos, Pricillas, Enriquez, Delos Santos and Caballes while violation for Section 5 and 11 of RA 9265 will be filed against Rodel and Niño James.

A separate case for illegal possession of firearms will also be filed against Rodel, Niño James and Enriquez.

They are now temporarily detained at the Consolacion police stockade.   (FREEMAN)