Mandaue cops arrest five drug suspects

The Mandaue City police arrested five suspected drug pushers and users in separate operations conducted in different barangays in the city the other day.

Arrested were Primo Baigan, 37, Yamllie Fajardo, 18, and Jay Locsin, 33, Buenaventura Almacin Bayo, Jr., 35, of barangay Jagobiao, and Antonio Cortes, 43, of barangay Centro, who are all from Mandaue City.

Baigan, Fajardo, and Locsin were arrested by members of the Mandaue City police anti-illegal drugs special operations task group led by PO2 Dionisio Dela Pena, Jr. in a buy-bust operation at Jaime Compound in barangay Tipolo.

The police immediately went to the place to conduct surveillance after being tipped off about illegal drug dealing last week.

After confirming the report, the police employed the services of a decoy for the buy-bust.

Seized from Baigan was a marked P100 bill and white powder suspected to be shabu, while disposal lighters and other drug paraphernalia were seized from Fajardo and Locsin.

Bayo was arrested by members of the task force in a separate buy-bust operation at sitio San Jose, barangay Jagobiao.

Confiscated from Bayo were 13 pieces of hand-rolled dried leaves of marijuana plants, one transparent plastic pack containing marijuana leaves, and P50 marked money.

Cortes, on the other hand, was arrested by policemen assigned at Station 1, assisted by members of the Centennial Force Foundation.

Cortes was walking alone along P. Gomez Street in barangay Centro when police spotted him in possession of illegal drugs.

The suspects are presently detained at the Mandaue City Jail. - Jose P. Sollano