3 arrested in Balamban drug busts

CEBU, Philippines - Three men, two of them allegedly drug pushers, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Balamban town.

The police were able to arrest first Paul Sanchez, 34, who led to the arrest of two others suspects, Joselito Abaquita, 39, and Rodrigo Batucan, 41.

Sanchez, a resident of Barangay Luca, a mountainous barangay in Balamban, was arrested in the first buy-bust operation at 5:30 p.m. last Friday.

The suspect handed over a pack of suspected shabu worth P500 to a police who posed as the buyer, resulting to his arrest.

As part of the standard operating procedure, the police frisked Sanchez and found in his possession was a cal. 45 pistol loaded with ammunition, six grams of suspected shabu worth at least P70,800 and a mobile phone. A motorcycle was also confiscated from him.

He was taken into police custody and confessed to the police where he got his supply of the illegal drugs, said Senior Police Officer 1 Joselito Villarino, the chief investigator.

Villarino said that using the mobile phone confiscated from the suspect, they transacted with the supposed supplier and ordered from him 10 grams of shabu.

The “supplier” replied that he would make it 25 grams but asked to wait as he would be delivering drugs first in Toledo City.

At around 9 p.m. on Saturday, the suspects and the police arrived in Barangay Cambuhawe, where they agreed to meet.

A multicab arrived and two men, who were later identified as Abaquita and Batucan, the driver, disembarked.

A policewoman who acted as the poseur-buyer received the drugs from the suspects, who were then placed under arrest.

The police confiscated a large pack of suspected shabu worth P271,400 and several money transfer receipts from the suspects. The multicab was also taken into police custody.

A cal. 45 pistol with ammunition was further seized from Abaquita.

Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition will be filed against the three suspects.  (FREEMAN)