DURING BUY-BUST OPERATION: Drug suspect's neighbors stone police

CEBU, Philippines -  Operatives of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the Mandaue City Police Office were stoned by some residents of Holy Name in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City when they arrested a level two drug pusher in the area last Friday afternoon.

 But the incident did not prevent police from arresting Romeo Blanco alias “Tatay,” 42, a well-known drug pusher in Cebu City who has several pending cases for illegal drugs.

 CAIDSOTG chief Insp. Raymond Rodriguez said Blanco’s neighbor’s tried to block their way while they were on their way to bring the suspect to the Mandaue City Police Office after he was arrested.

 Rodriguez said Blanco is considered “Robinhood” in the area and is endeared to his neighbors as he shares whatever he has to them.

 The police first transacted with the suspect in Sitio Sapa-Sapa in Barangay Subangdaku, which is a boundary between Cebu City and Mandaue city at around 3:20 p.m. last Friday.

 But during their first transaction, Blanco only brought along a few pieces of shabu prompting the poseur buyer to ask for more. It was then the suspect brought the poseur buyer to his house in Sitio Holy Name, which located a few meters away.

 Police operatives then followed Blanco and poseur buyer to the suspect’s house where the latter handed his “customer” a black pouch to show to him that he has plenty of “stocks.”

 It was at this point, the poseur buyer has signaled his colleagues by trying to call them through his cellular phone that the sale has been consummated.

 But just as the operatives stormed Blanco’s house to arrest him, residents threw stones at them but luckily none of the policemen got hurt.

 Five medium packs and 30 other small packs of shabu were seized from the suspect’s possession during a body search.

 Aside from Blanco, his two other shabu “runners” identified as Jose Alesna and Joshua Diores were also arrested in the same operation.

The suspects are presently detained at the Mandaue City Police Station 1 pending the filing of charges against them for violations of the Section 5 and Section 11 of the R..A 9165 or the Anti Illegal Drugs law./WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)