Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu drug busts net four suspects

Three men in Cebu City and another in Lapu-Lapu City were arrested for possession of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia in separate police operations last Friday.

A checkpoint, done by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch along V. Rama Avenue in barangay Calamba, resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old Silvestre Gador.

Gador, a resident of Juana Osmeña Extension, was frisked first then caught in possession of two packs of suspected shabu and several drug paraphernalia.

Later in the evening, the CIIB team led by Supt. Pablo Labra and the Vice Control team led by George Ylanan went to barangay Kamagayan to conduct an anti-crime drive together with some PNP field trainees and Special Weapons and Tactics team members.

The composite team arrested two suspects, Jeorge Canillo, of barangay Sagay, Toledo City; and Philip Malagar, of barangay Bahak, Liloan town, after they were found in possession of drug-sniffing paraphernalia.

The Cebu City Police operation was in line with the anti-street crime operations, dubbed as Oplan Paglalansag Omega and Oplan Banat, which are among the flagship programs of the PNP.

The operations involved the frisking of suspicious-looking people for possibly hidden weapons and illegal drugs.

Meanwhile in Lapu-Lapu City, the police operations division conducted a saturation drive in sitio Looc, barangay Maribago, against ten wanted people with arrest warrants who have been reportedly residing in the place.

The policemen, led by S/Insp. Jonathan Pineda, and some barangay officials ordered male residents to the barangay basketball court for frisking and identification processes.

They failed to find the wanted men but caught Jade Rejoy, 21, who acted suspiciously when a policeman frisked him.

The police found from him 40 packs of suspected shabu, inside a pack of cigarettes, and a list of people that the police believed to be names of Rejoy's customers and contacts in his illegal trade.

The wanted people the police failed to catch were frustrated murder suspect Roldan Pangatungan; rape suspects Ereneo Aying and Maralo Hinagon, drug suspects Wilson Oyao and Romeo Baring Amistad, and Dani Pangatungan who is wanted for illegal possession of firearms.

Also sought were Ludy Anudling for estafa, and theft suspects Franklin Garciano, Antonio Pangatungan and Alan Aying. - Edwin Ian Melecio