Couple charged for selling drugs; 3 others arrested

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Office of the City Prosecutor has indicted a couple who are priority targets in the region for allegedly selling illegal drugs.

Prosecutor II Fatima Asjali-Maadil held for trial Dennis Diola, 48, number three on the high value target list, and his live-in partner Manilyn Arquillano, 22, number six on the list, both residents of Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.

Maadil recommended no bail for their temporary liberty.

In the inquest proceeding, Diola and Arquillano both chose not to undergo preliminary investigation and instead manifested to face the charges in court.

Aside from selling of drugs, Diola is also facing charges for illegal possession of dangerous drugs with P200,000 recommended bail and illegal possession of firearms with P180,000 recommended bail.

Diola and Arquillano were arrested last June 3 during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tisa after they sold shabu to a police operative.

After the two were arrested, operatives were able to recover 4.45 grams believed to be shabu and a firearm with six bullets from Diola’s possession.

Another couple

In Danao City, another couple was arrested in a buy-bust operation and with over P200,000 worth of shabu in Hi-way Looc around 2:20 p.m. yesterday.

Danao City Police Station conducted the operation against Joel Garbo, 48, and Reynilda Garbo, 45.  The two are under the city police's drug list.

Seized from their possession were four medium and five small packs of suspected shabu valued at P239,540 and cash worth P500.

The suspects are now detained at the Danao City Police Station.

In Minglanilla, a habal-habal driver was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by Minglanilla police in Sitio Lipata, Barangay Linao-Lipata yesterday around 9:30 a.m.

Suspect was identified as Windel Dinoy Diarocas, a.k.a. "Itlog", 23, a native of Dipolog City and currently residing at Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.

According to Police Superintendent Dexter Calacar, Minglanilla Police Station chief, they conducted a buy-bust operation against Diarocas after validating reports of his illegal drug activities in the area.

Diarocas was immediately handcuffed after the buy-bust transaction was completed.

At least 1.31 grams of suspected shabu worth P15,358 were recovered from the suspect who is now detained at the Minglanilla Police Station pending the filing of charges against him. — Mylen P. Manto, Iris Mariani B. Algabre, and Niña Lyka G. Modelo (FREEMAN)