American, 5 others fall in drug busts

CEBU, Philippines —  An American national and five others were arrested with P4.6 million worth of illegal drugs in separate buy-bust operations conducted by the police all on Wednesday.

The latest operation was conducted by the drug enforcement unit of Talisay City Police Station in Sitio Hawod, Barangay Bulacao at around 8:45 p.m.

Authorities identified the arrested suspect and the subject of the operation as a certain John Casper Macaalay of Barangay Quiot, Cebu City.

Confiscated from him were P3,570,000  worth of suspected shabu weighing 525 grams. Aside from this, the police also retrieved from him a .22 caliber revolver with five live ammunition.

Police Lt. Colonel Randy Caballes, Talisay City Police Station chief, said the arrested suspect has been in illegal drug trade since December of last year, adding that this is his first offense.

The suspect was placed under surveillance for two weeks after reports received by the station that he was involved in illegal activities.

“His area of operation is at Brgy. Quiot Pardo, Bulacao Pardo, and some parts in Talisay City and Minglanilla. He can dispose 500 to 1,000 grams of shabu per week. A certain ‘Al’ (subject for follow-up operation) is his source of illegal drugs,” said Caballes in a statement.

Prior to this operation, a buy-bust operation was also conducted by the Basak, Mandaue Police Station at 12 noon along R. Colina Street, Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue City.

Investigators identified the arrested suspect as James Henry Durr Jr., 53, an American national and temporarily residing at 557 V Rama, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Also arrested were Elvie Rose Demateo Manatad, 29, of Sitio Chicos, Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue City, and Robbie Bern Laja Quimbo, 36, of Sitio Abellana, Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

During the operation, the operatives seized at least 4.24 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P28,832.

On the same day, at around 4:30 a.m., another buy-bust operation was conducted in Purok Narra 5, Barangay Tayud, Liloan, Cebu.

This resulted in the arrest of two individuals of two drug suspects.

Authorities identified them as Rommy Pretela Monleon, 28, and Romnick Dotillos Monleon, 29, who were caught with 150 grams of suspected shabu inside their house in the area mentioned.

The buy-bust operation was conducted by the joint forces of operatives of Liloan Police Station and Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7.

Reports of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Information Office said Monleon was listed in the station's watchlist and was tagged as a high-value individual in terms of illegal drug trading.

The operation netted at least 150 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of at least P1 million.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Roque Eduardo Vega, PRO-7 director, said they will continue these operations at 'full speed' to deter criminality and drug trade in the region.

 "Magpapatuloy ang aming kampanya laban sa mga iligal na gawain, sa droga, sugal kung saan maraming buhay ang nawasak at nasira. Hindi kami magpapahinga hangga’t hindi nahuhuli ang mga kriminal,” warned Vega.

Appropriate charges will be filed against the suspects for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of R.A. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and R.A. 10591 and BP 881 in relation to COMELEC Resolution 10728 or the COMELEC Gun Ban. — JMD (FREEMAN)