Woman arrested for “drug trade”

CEBU, Philippines - Close to P500,000 worth of shabu was confiscated from two suspected drug pushers in a buy-bust operation Tuesday in Sitio Tawog, Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City.

Ailene Rapuela, 31, was arrested while her live-in partner, Alberic John Quijano alias EQ or Beric, 43, eluded arrest after they sold a pack of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer past 5 p.m.

 Senior Inspector Mark Henrix Bancoleta, team leader of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-7, said that a tipster informed them of the couple’s alleged illegal activities.

The operatives conducted a test buy and surveillance operation before carrying out the buy-bust operation.

The police poseur-buyer bought a pack of suspected shabu from the couple inside their house.

Bancoleta said after the transaction, the operatives managed to get hold of Rapuela but Quijano ran away through the back of the house and disappeared.

The police confiscated 50 small packs, including the subject of the sale; two medium packs of suspected shabu; a .38 caliber revolver loaded with four live ammos; and P1,280 cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal trade. He said that the area where the couple lives is well-fenced and is located in a hill, but this did not hamper their operation.

Bancoleta said that Quijano was a former security guard but lost his job, prompting him to engage in the illegal drug trade while his partner could hardly get a job.

Rapuela was brought to the regional headquarters of RAIDSOTG-7 at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.

The police are set to file charges for violation of sections 5 and 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against the couple. — (FREEMAN)