Seven fall for drugs in ops across Cebu Friday night

CEBU, Philippines - In just one night, police arrested seven men and confiscated shabu worth at least half a million during four separate operations in Cebu City and province Friday.

In Carcar City, operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the Police Regional Office-7 arrested two alleged drug pushers in Barangay Poblacion Tres shortly before 6 p.m.

Suspects Tereso Bacon and John Mark Bolasco were arrested after selling a small sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer.

Senior Inspector Joey Bicoy of RAIDSOTG-7 said Bacon and Bolasco are classified as Level 2 drug pushers and connived with each other in selling illegal drugs in the area. They allegedly could sell at least 200 grams of drugs every week.

Bicoy said they monitored the two for at least two weeks before the operation was hatched.

Bolasco was arrested first after he handed a small pack of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer. They found Tereso inside a shanty repacking white substances believed to be illegal drugs.

There, police confiscated five medium and 29 small packs of suspected shabu that allegedly weighed at least 30 grams amounting to P354,000 based on Dangerous Drugs Board value.

Bacon admitted being in the illegal drugs business but Bolasco denied the allegations.

Bacon said he used to be a private driver but decided to join the illegal drugs business because of his small income.

“Bag-ohay pa man ko ani. Pamugasay lang ni ako ba. Pangsud-an lang unta para sa pamilya,” he said.

Bolasco, on the other hand, said he is a motorcycle-for-hire driver and he was at the area only because he ferried Bacon there.

He said he went inside the shanty because Bacon reportedly asked him to wait there for the fare.

“Gipapaabot ra man ko niya kay wala pa man ko plitehe,” Bolasco said.

While waiting, a man reportedly approached him and left packs of shabu with him.

At 8:20 p.m. of the same night, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – 7 also arrested 42-year-old Russel Canton when they implemented a search warrant at his residence in Canton Beach, Cansojong, Talisay City, Cebu.

One big and 16 small packs of suspected shabu were seized at the house. The packs weighed at least four grams and were worth of P47,200 according to DDB value. Police also found a caliber 22 revolver and several ammunition at Canton’s house.

About 10 minutes later, operatives of the Cebu City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group confiscated illegal drugs worth P390,000 during a buy-bust operation in  Barangay Taptap, Cebu City.

They also arrested Mihamed Navarro, 36, from whom they seized 14 small and one large pack of suspected shabu.

Merly Bonghanoy, 33 and Josie Mariquit, 22, believed to be Navarro’s cohorts, were also arrested.  

At 1:30 a.m. yesterday, CIDG-7 operatives again implemented a search warrant, this time against a certain Joy Lopez, 36, of Sitio Laguna, Barangay Basak, Cebu City.

The operation led to the seizure of three big and three small packs of suspected shabu worth P224,200. Police also seized a box containing 100 live ammunition of a 9mm caliber.

All persons arrested will be facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. An additional charge for illegal possession of firearm will be filed against Canton and Lopez.  (FREEMAN)