20 arrested in separate drug busts

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City police authorities arrested 16 drug suspects, including three members of a family, in separate buy-bust operations in the past two days.

In a buy-bust operation conducted by Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Station 4 personnel in coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 last Wednesday, arrested were Valeria Puza, 63 and her two children - 30 year old Marlon and 40-year old Marisol.

According to Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 4 Chief Senior Inspector Alcon Escosura Escosura, Valeria was the subject of the bust, but during the operation, Marlon sold to a police poseur-buyer one small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet, containing white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu.

In the routine body search conducted, police recovered 10 small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets. The police also arrested Valeria's daughter, Marisol and a certain Paolo Jay Amores, 22, and his live-in-partner, who were present at the buy-bust scene. Also arrested were Marisol's and Marlon's live-in-partners.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 5 arrested Ronald Ycong, 45, and 21-year old Armelyn Babaylo, both residents of Barangay Pusok yesterday morning in another buy-bust operation.

According to Police Chief Inspector Wayne Magbanua, police authorities were able to seize from the suspects 30 pieces of small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu with an estimated value of P18,290.00.

Ycong transacted the sale of a small pack of shabu with a police operative, while Babaylo was caught in possession of drug paraphernalia.         

In a separate operation, Police Chief Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, Officer-in-Charge of LCPO-City Intelligence Branch and City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations, said they arrested Edwin Yarag, 34, Augusto Igot, 22, Anthony Paquibot, and Gilbert Icot, 25 in Barangay Mactan yesterday morning.

The four suspects were arrested after a police poseur-buyer bought from Yarag and Paquibot one piece medium heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing shabu with an estimated worth of P16,000.

In another buy-bust operation in the same barangay, Sucalit said they also arrested Ariel Aying, 25, Christian Ugsang, 25, and Dennis Aying, 33, all from Barangay Mactan.

Aside from one piece small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of shabu recovered from the suspects, the police also seized from Ugsang one .22 cal. revolver and five pieces of  live ammunition.

All suspects are now detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Holding Cell. 

In Consolacion, two men together with a minor were arrested during an anti-illegal drugs operation on Wednesday morning at Riverside, Poblacion Oriental.

Arrested were Carlo Cuajao, 26, subject of the operation; Ralph Anthony Isoto alias Rap 21; and a 16-year-old minor, all residents of Poblacion Oriental.

Surveillance was conducted on Cuajao after operatives from Consolacion Police Station received a report that he was engaged in illegal drug activities.

Senior Inspector William Homoc of Consolacion Police station said the suspects attempted to run after the transaction was completed but they were able to corner the suspects.

Operatives were able to recover nine pieces of plastic sachets believed to be shabu.

Suspects are temporarily detained at the Consolacion Police Sation.

In Danao, Sheena Marie Durano,28, a resident of Tupaz St., Barangay Suba was placed behind bars after she was arrested for illegal selling of drugs on Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Suba.

The Danao City police were able to recover 0.40 grams of shabu with Dangerous Drugs Board value of P4,720 from the possession of the suspect. (FREEMAN)