Drug pushers in Carcar arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Two alleged drug pushers were arrested by the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group in a buy-bust operation Tuesday evening in barangay Bolinawan, Carcar City.

Recovered from the suspects were several packets containing alleged shabu worth more than P125,000 which were taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for analysis.

The arrest of Julius Lopez, the alleged leader of the Julius Lopez Drug Group and of sitio Tugas, came after the arrest of John Lloyd Baritua, of sitio Cambontan whose father, Leonedes “Medis” Baritua, the real subject of

the operation eluded arrest.

Recovered from Lopez was one large pack containing alleged shabu, P1,000 placed on top of the boodle money, a cellular phone, and a Chevrolet Optra (YHB-605).

Also, seized from John Lloyd’s possession were 15 packets containing alleged shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, the marked P300, a cellular phone, and a caliber .45 pistol with three magazines and 12 bullets.

Leonedes’s illegal activity was under surveillance for one week before the operation was carried out at 8:00 in the evening but Leonedes eluded arrest and it was John Lloyd who was arrested instead.

In a separate interview, both suspects denied owning the illegal drugs saying evidence recovered were planted by the operatives.

“Planted ang ebidensiya, ako tuod ang cellphone pero dili ako ang nagtransaksyon,” Lopez said.

John Lloyd admitted possessing the pistol but not the drugs.

“Wala man ko mamaligya ako rang papa gibilin ra man na nako wala ko kahibalo nga mao diay nay sulod,” he said. (FREEMAN)