3 "drug dealers" fall in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - Three alleged drug dealers were apprehended in three separate operations last Friday in the city and province of Cebu.

Mario Virtucio Secreno, 47, a farmer from Barangay Sohoton, Badian, Cebu, was apprehended by the police after he went amuck while armed with a shotgun on Friday at 8:40 pm.

SPO1 Jeremias Elardo, Badian Police Station Desk Officer, said Mario‘s wife, Maria sought police assistance with the help of Barangay Captain Jaime Javil.

A team led by PO3 Andrew Canonigo, responded to the alarm where they saw a very agitated Mario holding a shotgun in one hand and holding a sack in the other.

Seeing the approaching police, Mario tried to flee but was cornered.

Recovered from the suspect’s possession were a shogun with live ammunition and four plastic bags filled with dried marijuana weighing 3 kilos.  

Police estimated the confiscated contrabands at around P30,000 or P8, 000 per plastic bag.

Mario, who is currently detained at Badian Police Station, was described to be drunk and under the influence of drugs.

In Barili, Homabon Fuentes, 30, of Barangay Poblacion of the same town, was also arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – 7 on Friday at 4pm.

A PDEA agent posed as a buyer and asked to buy two packs of shabu from Fuentes before the arrest. Aside from the two packs of shabu, 15 other sachets were also recovered from Fuentes during a body search.

 Meanwhile, Ramil Cortes Judilla, 46, of M. Borgonia Street, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, was also arrested by elements of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group Central Visayas (RAIDSOTG), in a buy-bust operation on Friday at 4:30 pm.

Judilla was arrested by a team headed by Insp. Henrix Bancoleta at Ringtop Pension House located along MJ Cuenco Ave., Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Recovered from Judilla’s possession were two medium packs of white powder believed to be shabu, P500 marked money and P800.

Secreno, Fuentes and Judilla will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002 which will be filed tomorrow. (FREEMAN)