Drug campaign in the province: Police operation nets 'small fish'

After allocating so many men and resources to an operation in Liloan and Naga town early morning yesterday, police came home with the "small fish", arresting only two men and confiscating 14 packs of suspected shabu.

A joint search operation was conducted by the elements of the Provincial Anti- Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group led by the Provincial Deputy Director for Operations, Supt. Herman Lungayan Jr., with the Special Operations Group, Special Rescue Unit, and the elements of Liloan and Consolacion policemen.

Armed with a search warrant issued by judge Ulric Cañete of Regional Trial Court Branch 55, Mandaue City, 32 men searched four houses in Mag-asin Compound, barangay Yati, Lilo-an town.

Police were able to recover a medium pack of suspected shabu and paraphernalia at the house of 22-year-old Arvin Mag-asin. Two medium packs of suspected shabu, a cellphone and drug paraphernalia were also found at the house of Arvin's father Rufo while a medium pack of suspected shabu was found at the house of Rufo's brother Ireneo, 62.

Five assorted plastic packs with suspected shabu residue, drug paraphernalia, P760 cash in different denominations, three heat-sealed packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia were also found at the house of their relative Joselyn Mag-asin.

Arvin and his uncle Ireneo were arrested while Arvin's father Rufo escaped after jumping out of the window and running across neighboring rooftops. Joselyn was not around during the operation.

Arvin and Ireneo are now detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Consolacion town. Aside from selling drugs, the suspects allegedly charge drug users P20 per person to use an abandoned house at the back of the compound for their shabu sessions.

Lungayan said surveillance conducted on the subjects since last month after receiving a tip regarding their illegal activities.

The preparation of the operation started 4 p.m. Friday and the team slept at the provincial police headquarters. At 4 am they proceed to Consolacion and get an augmentation force from the town and from Liloan since they lacked personnel.

He said that all cellphones of the police were confiscated so that it will not create suspicion among others.

They proceeded to the place of operation at 5:20 a.m. with a total of 32 members of the team.

In Naga town, elements of Naga police led town police chief, Supt Renato Malazarte and barangay officials implemented a search operation in the houses and premises of two persons barangay Lagtang.

The operation led to the recovery of three small sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia from the house of Caromencio Genodiala Jr.