P2.5 million ‘shabu’ seized in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines — A total of P2.5 million worth of “shabu” was confiscated from a suspected bigtime drug trader in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City on Wednesday evening.

Seven packs of shabu weighing 500 grams worth P2.5 million were recovered from the 45-year-old Russel Canton, a resident of the village, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – 7 Spokesperson Leia Albiar.

Albiar said Canton was among the oldest bigtime drug players in the city and was included on the PDEA’s high-value target list.

The suspect was under surveillance for almost a year, but he kept on transferring from one place to another.  Canton allegedly can dispose of at least 50 to 100 grams of shabu weekly.

"Naa na sya’y boss nga drug lord nga napriso na," said Albiar.

The operatives also recovered Canton’s cellular phone which could help them in tracing the suspect’s linkages.

Also arrested during the operation was Canton’s alleged cohort, Romeo Aljune Lui, 44, a resident of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

The arrested suspects are now temporarily detained at the PDEA-7 detention cell pending the filing of charges against them.

No letup in drug war

Meanwhile, there would be no letup in the government's war against illegal drugs despite the dismissal of drug charges against Cebuano businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed druglord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr., the regional director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas said.

Chief Superintendent Robert Quenery said the policemen remain steadfast in cleansing the region from all forms of illegal drugs.

He also defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, saying it’s not anti-poor contrary to the claims of some senators.

"No. We can see a president who is firm on his pronouncements and is personally leading us in this campaign without fear or favor," Quenery said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

Senator Bam Aquino on Tuesday slammed the dismissal of illegal drugs charges against Lim and Espinosa as proof that the war on drugs only targets the poor.

In a resolution dated on Dec. 20, 2017, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the cases filed against Lim, Espinosa, and 20 others, citing lack of sufficient evidence.

"The case is still there and I believe it is far from over. Evaluating the weight of evidence lies on the review panel and it will not dampen in any way our resolve to pursue the so called bigwigs in the illegal drug trade," Quenery said.

He said among the lessons learned from the DOJ’s undertaking on Lim’s case was to ensure that pieces of evidence acquired are “airtight.”

"Be it as it may, our rules of court require law enforcement agents, in order to have airtight cases against drug personalities, should really acquire strong evidence to have the case stand in court," he said.

For his part, Superintendent Royina Garma, chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), said they are hoping that the review of drug charges against 22 personalities would turn out positive, in favor of the cases filed against the accused.

"The president is really determined to address the problem on illegal drugs. Kaya yung community support is indispensable,” she said. —Ermida A. Moradas (FREEMAN)