Five arrested in saturation drive

CEBU, Philippines - Five men were arrested Wednesday evening during a saturation drive conducted by the intelligence branch of the Cebu City Police Office Intelligence in Sitio Kabayoan, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

A team of 25 policemen headed by Chief Inspector Romeo Santander together with 35 members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) swooped down the area for any form of illegal activity.

Yonirez Almacin, 25; Rio Lamio, 25; Terry Paloloy, 30; Angelito Carpentero and Poberto Villadar were caught in the act of sniffing shabu in one of the houses in the area.

The police seized several drug paraphernalia and a .38 revolver from one of the suspects. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 14 video karera machines but the police failed to arrest the operators.

“Pag-abot gyud namo nagkayagaw gyud ang lugar mao nga wala gyud namo na-dakpan ang mga tag-iya sa mga video karera kay wala na may mo-angkon,” Santander said.

Santander said that the confiscated gambling machines are now in police custody and will be scheduled for destruction.

The five suspects arrested will be charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act or Republic Act 9165. The owner of the unlicensed firearm will also be charged for illegal possession.

Santander said a similar operation will be conducted throughout the city in the coming days. Aside from saturation drives, the police are continually conducting random checkpoints and police patrol operations in identified crime prone areas.

Santander admitted they have recently monitored the presence of a small organized robbery group operating in Cebu City.

He said the police anti-crime operations are expected to deny this group the opportunity to strike.  (FREEMAN)