More than P2M shabu seized in drug busts

CEBU, Philippines — More than P1 million worth of suspected shabu were seized in a buy-bust operation of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Mandaue City Police Office at Zone Luy-a, Barangay Paknaan, last Sunday night.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, who headed the operation, identified the suspects as Eric Banilad “Rara” Capoy, 35, a resident of  Sitio Pulangyuta, Barangay Looc, Danao City; Ronald Villaruel Carunungan, 45, from Zone Agbate, Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City; and Joseph Cabarubias Yrog-irog, 37, who is from Sitio San Antonio, Barangay Jubay, Liloan, Cebu.

Oriol said they have seized 160 grams of suspected shabu that would cost over P1 million, and an XRM motorcycle that the suspects reportedly were riding.

Oriol added that they targeted Capoy, who is considered a high-value target at the regional level because of his capability to dispose and the wide area where he operates. Capoy reportedly covers from Carmen, Cebu to Mandaue City.

The suspects are currently detained at the Mandaue City Police Office pending the filing of cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 Section 5 and 11.

In Cebu City, a 26-year-old man is also locked in at the Labangon Police Station jail facility after he was nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Calamba last Sunday.

The suspect was identified as Chad Palatolon, a resident of Bliss, Barangay Labangon.

Police Captain Jonathan Dela Cerna, who heads the Labangon Police Station, and his operatives from the Drug Enforcement Unit, conducted the operation.

Seized from Palatolon were sachets of suspected shabu weighing 180 grams worth P1.2 million.

Palatolon did not issue any comment, when pressed from answers by reporters.

The authorities believed that the suspect has just joined in the illegal trade.

Meanwhile, five men and two minors were also nabbed in separate buy-bust operations in Talisay City on the same day.

In the first operation at Sitio Mananga 2, Barangay Tabunok, the police have arrested Joel Diaz, 19; Junifer Gadiano, 30; Randy Silaya, 30, and a 16-year-old minor.

Recovered from their possession were suspected shabu weighing 1.08 grams and worth P7,000.

Four hours later, the police nabbed Jervie Dejacto, 28, at Sitio Kilawan, Barangay Tanke, Talisay City.

Dejacto’s 16-year-old companion, who is a resident of Minglanilla, Cebu, was also arrested.

Seized from them were suspected shabu weighing .99 grams worth P6,000. — Reports from Banat News/GAN