Drug peddlers, robbers fall in Liloan town buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines -  The police arrested alleged drug pushers and robbers and confiscated from them several packets of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation Tuesday evening in Purok Molave, Barangay Tayud, Liloan town.

Suspects were said to be responsible in several robbery incidents in the town, according to police chief Senior Inspector Ramil Morpos.

Anti-narcotics operation led to the arrest of Alsio Cacano, 27, of Sitio Dapdap, Barangay Catarman; Erik Tagalog, 37, of Barangay Tayud; and Ariz Manatad, 35, of Barangay Poblacion. Each of them reportedly possessed 10 small packets of shabu worth P6,000.

There was also a firearm loaded with six bullets seized from Manatad. Pieces of evidence are now in the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 for chemical analysis and ballistics examination.

Morpos said continuous monitoring of the illegal activities of the suspects led to their arrest. It was Cacano who handed a small packet of shabu to a poseur buyer in exchange for P200 marked money. Aside from the shabu and firearm, police also confiscated P400 cash believed to be proceeds of illegal drug trade. He said Manatad was a known robber in Mandaue City and they even arrested him before. Manatad was also responsible in the robbery of a lotto outlet in Liloan town recently.

"Sukad naabot ni siya nikusog ang tulis aning lugara (Tayud) unya identified pa gyud na siya sa taga-lotto outlet based sa helmet nga gi-describe…amo pa nang ipatan-aw sa biktima," Morpos said in a phone interview.

Cacano also figured in a shooting incident a few days ago and was injured by the unidentified assailant. He was once arrested for violating Section 11 and 12 of RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

"Ongoing pa na iyang kaso ron unya dia na pud ning bag-o…dako ang posibilidad nga drug-related ra pud ang motibo adtong pagpusil sa iyaha," said Morpos. He encouraged those who were victimized by the suspects to appear at their office for the filing of charges.

Suspects will be facing charges in violation of Section 5, 26, and 11 of RA 9165 while a separate case for RA 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act will be filed against Manatad.  (FREEMAN)