NBI raids net P5M shabu

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — Agents of the Manila-based National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday confiscated a total of P5.36 million of shabu after five raids on drugs dens in this city and in Panglao town.

Jerome Bomediano of the NBI-7 Special Anti-Drug Operation said the raids, carried out with the help of operatives of NBI-7 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, netted a total of 487.3 grams of shabu.

Armed with a search warrant, issued by a Manila-based court, the NBI men first raided the house of Luis Habas at Barangay Tawala in Panglao at past 6 a.m. Tuesday, where they seized six big packs of shabu and a 9-mm pistol.

The NBI next raided the house of Bobby Cabar, who was not around at the time, at the Muslim Village in Barangay Taloto in Tagbilaran. The suspect’s children, Jilil and Jabar, were at the house during the raid, and the agents got three big packs of shabu, cash, drug paraphernalia and several firearms.

The third target was the house in Labadan Street, also at Taloto, where the NBI arrested six suspects: Ariel Aray Reyno, Ray Francis Jhon Aray, Roy Cordillo, Dominic Manlangit, Michaeldon Barol, and Lord Manigue. The raid netted small packs of shabu, and an improvised .22-caliber pistol.

The NBI operatives then raided the house of Junaide Cadar at Peñaflor corner Estaca Streets in Barangay Booy, this city. The suspect was not around but the agents caught four men inside, identified as Edwin Lauriano, Carlito Iscuadro, Jimwill basalo and Frillon Osmil, who yielded several small packs of shabu. Also seized from the house were five big packs of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a .38-caliber revolver.

The NBI finally raided a house at Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Street in Barangay Cogon, this city, owned by suspect Martina Arpon, who was the subject of the warrant but “at large.” Three big packs of shabu and cash were seized from her house.

The inventory of the seized items was witnessed by Barangay Chairmen Eugene Zamora of Taloto and Eutorgio Telmo of Booy, Councilmen Neil Malaya, Magallano and Lomotos, Department of Justice representative Saturnina Baricuatro, the local media and men from TV-5 Network.

NBI team leader Joel Tovera told The Freeman the raids were conducted based on their findings that illegal drug has been rampant in the province, and that 70 percent of the crimes here has been drug-related.  (FREEMAN)