3 arrested for drugs, two of them armed

CEBU, Philippines- Two armed persons believed to be high on drugs and another suspected drug pusher were caught in separate police operations in Lapu-Lapu City recently.

Suspects Antonio Gequillo, 23, and Alberto Juezan, 24, both fishermen and residents of Bohol, were caught by the police during a checkpoint in front of Tiange Elementary School in Barangay Babag Saturday morning.

Police Inspector Rex Ibañez of Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 3 said the police were conducting a checkpoint operation in the barangay around 11 a.m.

Gequillo and Juezan were onboard a Suzuki black single motorcycle with temporary plate number 7C-1603. The police flagged down their motorcycle for inspection. When asked for their legal papers, the suspects were not able to present any document.

Ibañez added that when they conducted a spot search on the suspects, a firearm believed to be a 9mm .357 cal. revolver with three live ammunitions was caught bulging out from the waist of Juezan while another firearm, reported to be an ingram submachine pistol with 10 live ammunitions, was also recovered inside a brown bag of Gequillo.

Nine small packs of suspected shabu were also confiscated from Juezan while seven small packs of the same prohibited drugs were recovered from Gequillo. The suspects' guns were likewise confiscated.

According to Ibañez, the two Bohol natives were about to dispense the illegal drugs in the area. They were offered by a friend to do the activity, he added.

Police said the suspects were forced to take the job due to poverty.  The suspects also insisted they were carrying firearms for self-defense.

The suspects, along with the pieces of evidence, were brought to the police station.

Juezan and Gequillo will face criminal charges for violating Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and RA 9165 known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, a buy-bust operation conducted in Barangay Pajo on Friday evening resulted to the arrest of a certain Marcus Toring, 44, who is a resident of Sitio Sangi in the said barangay.

He was reportedly caught in the act of selling shabu by responding police officers of LCPO Station 3.

Police Inspector Wilbert Parilla said they recovered 16 small packs of shabu and two 100-peso bills that served as marked money during the entrapment.

Toring will be charged with a criminal complaint in violation of RA 9165.