Tuburan "drug pusher" faces 3 cases

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office elevated three cases to the Toledo Regional Trial Court against an alleged level two-drug pusher in Tuburan, Cebu.

Prosecutor 1 Petronio V. Elesterio elevated the complaints for illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of drugs after finding probable cause against a certain Johnny Ylanan.

Elesterio recommended a bail bond of P80,000 for the violation of Republic Act 8294 or illegal possession of firearms, P40,000 for illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. His case for possession of shabu is non-bailable.

Police allegedly found in Ylanan’s possession shabu worth P50,000 - a big pack and three medium packs; a big roll of aluminum foil; three disposable lighters; an improvised tooter; four cellular phones; P4,500 alleged drug money; a .45 caliber airgun; two .45 caliber magazines and 20 rounds of .45 caliber ammunitions and two rounds of .357 ammunitions.

A search in his house was conducted by a joint team of the Tuburan Police Station led by Senior Police Insp. Mark Sucalit, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7 led by Special Investigator 2 Ferdinand Quintanar, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 led by SPO4 Joseph Montesclaros.

Ylanan has been under surveillance for almost a month after they received reports from residents of Barangay 5, Tuburan about his illegal activities, Sucalit said.

Ylanan is the second most wanted in the list of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Team. The most wanted, pusher Jeffery Blanco, was arrested last October.

Authorities said Ylanan could sell at least 200 grams of shabu worth P1.3 million every week.

Aside from Tuburan, Ylanan also allegedly sold drugs in Toledo City and the neighboring towns of Tabuelan, Asturias and Balamban. - THE FREEMAN