Police net almost P4M drugs in raid

CEBU, Philippines – Suspected shabu worth almost P4 million, several firearms, and stolen motorcycles were recovered during an operation against alleged big-time drug pushers in San Fernando town yesterday afternoon.

The subjects of the operation, however, Ruel Garces who is in his 30s and 45-year-old Leonardo Gesnan, were not around when authorities arrived at the area.

The operation was carried out by operatives of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7, and San Fernando Police Station.

Supt. Romeo Santander, CIB chief, said Garces and Gesnan were reported to be the supplier of illegal drugs to Genes Ermitanio, the 21-year-old drug courier who spent his birthday inside a jail after he was nabbed with a kilo of shabu last Saturday.

He said Ermitanio identified Garces and Gesnan during interrogation and it was found later that the two have pending warrants of arrest for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

At around 1:30 p.m. yesterday, the operatives proceeded to Gesnan’s house in San Fernando but did not find the suspects there.

Instead, they found pieces of evidence including 13 large packs of suspected shabu that weighed 325 grams worth up to P3,835,000, based on estimate of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

They also found one shotgun with three live ammunition and two cal. 22 revolvers, as well as three stolen motorcycles.

“We verified the plate numbers and the registrations nga naa pa sa U-box. One of the owners who is a teacher and from Barangay Pardo confirmed about his carnapped motorcycle,” Santander said.

Santander said it was possible that the two men simply went out of the house at that time. He said it was unlikely that they were tipped off, considering that the pieces of evidence were still in the house.

Santander said Garces and Gesnan are likened to “Robin Hood” because they are reportedly very generous to their neighbors. In fact, it was reportedly not easy to reach Gesnan’s house, which is located at an interior portion of the area, because the neighbors were tightlipped. —/JMO (FREEMAN)