Nine fall as shabu packs, guns recovered in police operations

CEBU, Philippines - Nine persons were arrested while nearly a hundred pack of suspected shabu and four firearms were confiscated by the police in separate operations Cebu City and Cebu Province last Friday.

A total of P141,600 worth of illegal drugs were confiscated from an alleged drug pusher, 34-year-old Joel Mata, in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Manlayag, Danao City at 11 a.m. last Friday.

Mata was apprehended after personally handing a pack of suspected shabu to a policeman who acted as poseur-buyer in exchange of P500.

The police also implemented a search warrant at Mata’s house issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of Regional Trial Court Branch 25.

They were able to arrest Mata’s suspected cohort Sherwin Pasana, 41, and Mildred Tapayan, 44, who were at Mata’s house when the operation took place.

The police confiscated shabu in three large packs and four medium-size packs, drug paraphernalia, the P500 marked money and P1,050 cash believed to be proceeds of the suspect’s illegal activities.

Also confiscated were a cal. 45 pistol, a KG9 machine pistol, ammunition for a shotgun, cal. 45 pistol, and cal. 380 and a magazine for a cal. 45 pistol.

Meanwhile, in another buy-bust operation, elements of the City Intelligence Branch arrested Ramil Bolo, 40, in Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City Friday evening.

The police poseur-buyer purchased a small pack of suspected shabu worth P200 from Bolo.

They received information that Bolo was into selling illegal drugs in the area.

A canister containing 56 small packs of suspected shabu was recovered from Bolo  while another large plastic pack containing 12 medium-size packs of suspected shabu was seized from his pocket.

The police also confiscated an unlicensed cal. 22 magnum revolver loaded with ammunition from the suspect.

On the same day, five other persons were arrested for possession of illegal drugs in separate police operations.

Jimmy Abella Jr., 24; Jay Labitad, 24; and Dodie Gabayan, 30 were arrested in Barangay Sapangdaku, Cebu City by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10.

The police confiscated from the suspects three medium packs of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P8,000, assorted drug paraphernalia and P360 cash believed to be their proceeds.

In another operation, Reylan Ibale, 24, was arrested in a hot pursuit operation Friday afternoon after he was positively identified by Charimay Cadalzo, 29, as the one who robbed her in Barangay Jugan, Consolacion.

Upon body search, the police found three small packs of suspected shabu, a mobile phone, and a kitchen knife from Ibale.

In Barangay Poblacion III, Carcar City, police arrested Ronald Lapinig, 30, after he handed a pack of shabu to a police officer during a buy-bust operation.

The police were able to seize a box from Lapinig containing eleven packs of shabu and a cal. 357 revolver with ammunition found inside his black belt bag. —NSA (FREEMAN)