Five arrested in anti-drugs operations

 CEBU, Philippines - Five persons were arrested in two anti-drug operations in Cebu City and in the towns of Tuburan and Argao.

The operation in Cebu City was undertaken in sitio Plastican in Barangay Duljo-Fatima dawn yesterday.

Police arrested Marwin “Mawi” Abelgas, 22, an alleged level two drug pusher, and his cohort Juvan Torres, 23, who was caught repacking suspected shabu.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander of the City Intelligence Branch said they confiscated more than 20 grams or close to P100,000 worth of shabu from the suspects.

Assisted by the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force Group (CAIDSOTFG), CIB operatives proceeded to Abelgas’ residence at past 2 a.m.  Santander said they were able to control the suspect and further recovered from his possession 60 small sachets of white substance believed to be shabu. Each pack, Santander said, is valued at P400.

The CIB chief further said they recovered 96 medium packs of the same substance from Torres. Each pack, he said, amounted to P700.

Police also recovered P2,400 in cash believed to be proceeds of the suspects’ illegal drug trade, and an unlicensed KG9 and a caliber .45 pistol allegedly owned by  Abelgas’. Two magazines for a KG9, 20 live ammunitions for a 9mm pistol, a magazine for a cal. 45, and 10 bullets for the same caliber as well as plastic box were further recovered from the house.

Santander identified Abelgas as a level two drug pusher who can dispose of at least 200 grams of shabu every week.

Also at dawn yesterday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 led by Chief Insp. Germano Mallari arrested John Loyd Roquero, 33, and Chiquito Cadano, 46, both residents of Barangay Poblacion 2, Tuburan around 5:00 a.m.

During the search of Roquero’s house, operatives recovered one .38 caliber revolver with three bullets of the same caliber, a holster, a straw re-filler with residue of shabu and several assorted drug paraphernalia.

One .38 caliber revolver with three bullets of the same caliber, one bullet of .9mm pistol, a black holster, a magazine pouch, and one small packet of shabu were recovered from Cadano.

In another operation, a tricycle driver was arrested by the Argao police during a buy-bust operation at the public market of Barangay Poblacion around 3 p.m.

Confiscated from Dennis ‘Ponkol” Lopez, 44, of Barangay Langtad, were eight small packets of shabu worth P4,000; P500 marked money; drug paraphernalia and P250 cash believed to be the proceeds of his illegal drugs trade.  (FREEMAN)