Drug pusher killed, another arrested

CEBU, Philippines - A woman who was allegedly a drug pusher was shot dead at Jakosalem St., Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City early yesterday morning while an alleged level 2 drug pusher in barangay Talaga, Argao was nabbed by the Argao police last Saturday afternoon.

Milagros Hingabang, 48, a jobless resident of Don Pedro St., Barangay San Antonio succumbed to a lone gunshot wound on her head.

The victim was reportedly standing along the road at 3 a.m. when two men riding on a motorcycle approached her. One of the men shot her before they fled towards Colon St.

The victim was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center where she was declared dead a few minutes later.

At the hospital, a used ampule and a syringe containing liquid believed to be Nubain was found by the attending physician inside the victim’s bra.

Police suspect that illegal drugs could be the motive behind the incident.

SPO4 Alex Dacua also surmised that the incident is related to last Saturday night’s shooting incident at the same street wherein two men on a motorcycle shot Dominic Puerto, 37, dead.

Police recovered from the fatality’s possession three syringes and an empty ampule of Nubain bottle, a sachet believed to be shabu, and a foil wrapped with a tissue.

In another incident, an alleged level 2 drug pusher in barangay Talaga, Argao was nabbed by the Argao police during a buy-bust operation last Saturday afternoon.

The operation, which was headed by police inspector Allan Batobalonos, Argao police chief, led to the arrest of Allan “Edgar” Tapayan, married, who was arrested outside his house.

Confiscated from him were five small sachets of shabu amounting to P1,500 and the three P500 bills used as buy-bust money.

The illegal drugs recovered were taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for chemical analysis.

Batobalonos disclosed that Tapayan has been the number one source of illegal drugs in southern towns from Argao to Samboan where he could dispose shabu amounting to P150,000 per week.

“Iya gyud ning whole south,” the police chief said adding that they found it hard to arrest Tapayan because he had several hiding places in various towns.

During transactions, he allegedly met the drug buyer and took the cash before he goes inside his house and return with sachets of shabu.

Tapayan, brother-in-law of Argao police’s SPO3 Eliezer Cañada, has been turning down several advises from the policeman.

“Permi ni pahimangnuan pero bisag unsaon dili na man gyud muhunong, mismo si Cañada nitabang og dakop,” Batobalonos said. (He refused to listen to advice, so his brother-in-law joined in arresting him.)

Batobalonos admitted that he has been receiving calls from unknown callers asking him to release Tapayan in exchange of a huge amount of money but he refused.

Tapayan, who is now detained in the Argao police stockade, was charged with violation of Section 5 of RA 9165 or possession of illegal drugs filed yesterday at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. – (FREEMAN)