Police arrest 3 "drug pushers"

CEBU, Philippines - A man who police say is a noted drug pusher was arrested by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group in a buy-bust operation Wednesday evening in Barangay Poblacion, Barili.

Police tagged Roger “Tolindoy” Tabacon as one of the biggest drug pushers in the southern Cebu. Tabacon is now detained at the Consolacion police stockade pending charges of Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Supt. Rodulfo Albotra, chief of the PIB, said the transaction was made at the suspect’s house at around 7:00 p.m. The police were acting on several complaints from concerned citizens.

Tabacon has been subject of monitoring by several police units. He was arrested by the police after he handed over a large packet of shabu worth P15,000 to a poseur buyer who gave him boodle money.

Albotra said Tabacon has been selling drugs in Moalboal town and other neighboring areas. He is also in the watchlist of the PIB and could dispose 25 grams of shabu worth P150,000 per week.

Albotra added that Tabacon cooperated during interrogation and they now have a list of names to validate.

Operatives have yet to determine if Tabacon has other pending cases.

Meanwhile in Cebu City, two drug pushers were caught in a buy-bust operation by the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (CIDSOTG) in Barangay Camputhaw last Wednesday afternoon.

Rey Anthony Parinasan and Ramie Caputol Cuinco, both of legal age, were caught in Purok 8 at around 3 p.m. after selling illegal drugs to an undercover police officer.

Chief Insp. Renero Agustin, head of Cebu City CIDSOTG, said that the operation was through a tip they received about the rampant illegal drug operation of the two suspects in the area.

The police placed the two suspects under surveillance before conducting the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency -7.

Agustin said one of their operatives posed as a poseur buyer who arranged to buy a sachet of shabu worth P200. He said Parinasan received the marked money from the poseur buyer and retrieved the contraband from the house owned by Cuinco.

When Parinasan returned and handed the contraband, the police arrested him. Moments later, Cuinco was also caught.

The police recovered nine sachets of white powder suspected to be shabu and P590 in drug proceeds.

Both suspects refused to comment and are currently detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade while the police are preparing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002.  (FREEMAN)