In Moalboal, Cebu: Drug suspect engages cops in gunfight, dies

CEBU, Philippines - A drug personality from Moalboal, Cebu who allegedly engaged arresting policemen in a gunfight was killed during a buy-bust operation last Friday.

Meanwhile, six other newly-identified drug personalities in the towns of Minglanilla and Consolacion and the city of Talisay were arrested in separate buy-bust operations.

Danilo Delfino, 38, a resident of Sitio Upper Banilad, Barangay Tomonoy, Moalboal, was killed after resisting arrest and engaging the cops in a shootout.

Police Chief Inspector Jose Rovic Villarin of the Moalboal Police Station said that their subject during that operation was Rey Lacanilao, but he managed to escape, along with his two cohorts, after he noticed that he was transacting with a police poseur buyer.

"While nag-transact, nakabantay ni si Rey nga police ang buyer.  Iya gisugo ug giingnan si Danilo nga ‘tirahe, tirahe’,” Police Officer 1 Niño Redaza from the Moalboal Police Station said.

Redaza added that there is a possibility that the other two drug personalities who were with Rey had gunshot wounds during the shootout, since the police investigators saw traces of blood near the area where the operation took place.

Villarin said the suspects are somehow affiliated with suspected drug lord Franz Sabalones of San Fernando, Cebu.

"Dili direct ang transaction nila ni Franz, pero siya ang ilang source," Villarin added.

The police seized 30.04 grams of shabu valued at P354,472, two caliber .38 revolvers, one 9mm pistol with 17 live ammunitions and several drug paraphernalia during the operation.

The police are now conducting follow-up operations for the arrest of the other drug personalities who managed to escape during the buy-bust operation.

In Consolacion, two newly-identified drug players were arrested during an anti-illegal drug operation Saturday afternoon and yielded P170,000 worth of suspected shabu.

Members of the Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 conducted a buy-bust operation against a certain John Peter Cajegas, 30, in Sta. Lucia, Poblacion Oriental, Consolacion Cebu.

The police recovered one medium pack of suspected shabu weighing six grams and has a value of P70,800 from Cajegas.

In Purok 6, Barangay Nangka, Consolacion Cebu, a separate buy-bust operation was conducted against Erwin Momo, 37.

Police officers recovered one medium pack of suspected shabu weighing 5.5 grams, believed to be worth P64,900 in dangerous drug board value.

Consolacion Police Station Chief Roderick Gonzales said the arrested suspects are newly-identified drug traders, but considered as low-value targets, based on their station list.

“Hindi pa kasama sa high-value target yun,  sa atin po low-value target,” said Gonzales.

The arrested suspects are now detained at the police stockade pending the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, four were arrested in separate police operations conducted by police operatives from Talisay and Minglanilla Saturday evening.

In Sitio Magay and Rattan Barangay Tangke, Talisay, police operatives conducted an intensified saturation drive and arrested two-newly identified drug personalities.

Police Officer 2 John Cyrus Illustrisimo of the Talisay City Police said that while operatives were doing the rounds, they caught Jerby Libres, 28, a resident of Sitio Rattan and Jinky Cataytay, 29, a resident of Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla, in possession of one triangular pack of suspected shabu.

In Sitio Sangi, Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla, the police arrested Retchel Heramil, 31, a resident of Sitio Bacay, Barangay Tulay for alleged possession of a caliber .38 revolver and five live bullets.

Hours later, the police proceeded to Sitio Tawali, Barangay Vito and arrested Ronald Laspuña aka bungol, 40, a resident of the said place, for selling a sachet of suspected shabu.

The police also confiscated another three packs of suspected shabu and P240 believed to be proceeds of his drug trade.

Minglanilla Police Chief Dexter Calacar said that they have placed Laspuña under surveillance for a week.

Calcar added Laspuña is a newly-identified drug personality and is considered as a street level drug pusher.

The suspects are now detained at the station pending the filing of appropriate charges. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila,  Iris Algabre and Maria Yula M. Pasaol (FREEMAN)