1 dead, 6 nabbed in Medellin drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - One died and six others were arrested, including five minors, in a buy-bust operation conducted by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch Sunday afternoon in Sitio Navarra, Barangay Canhabagat, Medellin.

A certain Joven Senining, a resident of Cebu City, and allegedly a gun-for-hire was shot by the authorities after he was seen about to draw his .45 pistol. He was hit in the left armpit.

Senining was taken to the Bogo Provincial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. Seized from him was his gun, a magazine and several bullets of the same caliber.

Those who were arrested were William Mercader, 35, and the subject of the operation, along with five minors with ages ranging from 15 to 17, who were reportedly used as lookout and also in repacking shabu.

Operatives claimed there were three others who fled on foot including a certain “Baki”.

Recovered were 82 small, one large and two medium packets of shabu worth P65,500; KG9 pistol and a magazine of the same caliber loaded with 21 bullets of 9mm pistol, a High Cap Nighthawk .45 pistol with magazine and loaded with 10 bullets of the same caliber, a High Cap Sam .45 pistol with magazine loaded with 11 bullets, a  Black Widow .22 revolver with four bullets, six other bullets of .45 pistol, cellular phones and assorted drug paraphernalia, in the house owned by Mercader.

Illegal drugs were taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug, Cebu City, for chemical analysis.

Mercader is now temporarily detained at the Consolacion police stockade pending the filing of charges for violation of Section 5 of RA 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Illegal Possession of Firearms.

The arrested minors were taken to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and assisted by Insp. Catalina Diotay, Women’s and Children’s Desk officer of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Reports of armed men engaging in illegal drugs in the said barangay prompted Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, CPPO director, to immediately direct the PIB to conduct surveillance.

“Duna may report nga kini si Senining nani-on recently og KG9 pistol sa barangay tanod naka-terrorize ni sila sa mga residente ngadto. (We received reports that Senining recently poked a KG9 pistol on a barangay tanod and terrorized residents in the area),” Comendador said.

Operatives then conducted a test-buy two days before the operation was carried out at around 4:30 p.m.

Mercader was arrested right after he handed one medium packet of shabu in exchange for P1,000 marked money from a poseur buyer.

When four armed men knew of the presence of operatives, the three men immediately eluded arrest while Senining drew his pistol which prompted the operatives to shoot him.

Comendador said that the armed men even introduced themselves as members of the military.

He added that they could not discount the possibility that they could be used during election.

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, PIB chief, said Mercader is on their list of drug personalities province-wide and number one drug suspect in Medellin town.

Mercader was also a level one drug pusher who could dispose of more than a kilo of shabu in a week. His areas of disposal reportedly included Daanbantayan and San Remegio.

Mercader admitted of owning the shabu but denied being involved as a gun-for-hire.

He said that Senining and the three other suspects were living with them at his house as if keeping an eye on him as directed by Joel Sumabong.

Sumabong is the alleged leader of the Land Bank of the Philippines robbery last August 2005.

“Wala gyud ko kita anang Sumabong pero mao nay gidala nga ngalan ni Senining nga maoy gasugo niya unya muhatag og proteksyon sa drugs, (I have never seen Sumabong but that was the name given by Senining as the one who instructed him in exchange for protection for drugs),” Mercader said.

Mercader also alleged that Senining was responsible in shooting to death Rodulfo Misa, 41, of Barangay Malbago, Daanbantayan, and injuring Marvin Ostia, 24, last month.

Both were reportedly abducted in Barangay Tindog and were taken to Barangay Caputatan Sur where they were shot.

Police are now investigating the identities of those who escaped. They are also coordinating with other police stations to check pending cases filed against Mercader.  (FREEMAN)