Pushers fall; woman linked in illegal drug case escapes

CEBU, Philippines - A notorious drug pusher fell into the hands of the police during a buy-bust operation inside a lodging house in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City.

Willy Donaire, a well-known drug pusher in Lapu-Lapu, was arrested during a buy-bust operation in one of the rooms of Wow Lodge at Tumulak Compound in Barangay Pajo around 4:45 p.m. last Wednesday.

He was arrested by a team led by PSr./Insp. Rogelio Pineda of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force after the suspect agreed with a police decoy that the transaction be conducted inside the said lodging house.

During his arrest, the police were able to confiscate from his possession three medium packs of shabu and another two medium packs in exchange of P500 pesos on top of a boodle money were also seized during the buy-bust.

The quantity of the illegal drugs seized from the suspect was 25 grams with a street value of P150,000.

According to LLCPO Director Rey Lyndon Lawas, it was the suspect's first arrest after several buy-bust operations were conducted against him because he has always eluded arrest everytime a police operation is carried out.

Cases of peddling and possession of illegal drugs is now being prepared against the suspect who is temporary detained at the holding cell of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.  

Toledo pusher nabbed

In separate incident, a level 2 drug pusher was arrested by Toledo Police Station Tuesday afternoon in Banana Chapter, Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City.

Richmon Edem, 26, single and resident of Barangay Ibo, Toledo City, was arrested by the responding police.

In a phone interview, PO3 John Ricafort, one of the arresting officers, told The FREEMAN that Edem is in their watchlist because he has a pending warrant of arrest issued and duly signed by RTC Branch 29 presiding Judge Ruben Altubar in Toledo City.

Edem, a notorious drug pusher in the city, reportedly violated the Comelec gunban and a white crystalline substance was also recovered from his position during the election week last year.

On Tuesday afternoon, a police's confidential informant told them that Edem was in Banana Chapter, Barangay Poblacion. After learning this, a team led by P/Insp. Gilfred Barongan then went to the area.

Positively, they saw Edem outside the house and upon realizing their presence, Edem attempted to escape. But with tight security presence around the area, Edem failed to do so.

Police recovered from Edem one big pack and medium size heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline granules believed to be shabu, one calibre .45 pistol with serial number 646232 and a magazine which he inserted to the pistol loaded with six live ammunitions.

After recovering Edem's pistol, police did not set aside the possibility that Edem was one of the responsible persons for the shooting that led to the death of a councilwoman identified as Irene Wamilda in Barangay Carmen, Toledo City. The shooting also wounded Wamilda's companion, Barangay Captain Alexander Alqueza of Barangay Claudio. They were ambushed by three unidentified men riding a red motorcycle.

Edem is temporarily detained at Toledo Police Station while appropriate charges are being filed against him.

Woman escapes

Meanwhile, a woman arrested for illegal drugs escaped from police custody after she was remanded from the court Monday afternoon at the Consolacion Police Station in Barangay Poblacion Occidental, Consolacion.

Dionisia Lumantao of Barangay Pulpogan asked PO1 Julios Patac, chief intelligence of the police station, to breastfeed her three-month-old baby at the bench outside when she managed to escape.

Lumantao was arrested by Patac and PO2 Glen Rosal by virtue of an arrest warrant for Section 11 of R.A. 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in her residence Sunday.

The warrant was issued by RTC Judge Estella Alma Singco, Branch 55, Mandaue City.

Patac remanded Lumantao to the issuing court for the issuance of commitment order Monday at 2 p.m. They then returned to the police station at 5 p.m.

It was at this juncture when Lumantao asked a favor to Patac to go out and breastfeed her baby before she will be detained back at the stockade.

Out of humanitarian consideration, Patac agreed without knowing that it would give Lumantao a chance to escape.

"Ang anak man gud ana dunay sakit sa kasing-kasing unya luoy pud," PO2 Ritchie Gako, investigator, said.

Patac reportedly lost his attention as he was attending other important matter when he noticed that Lumantao was no longer around which prompted the police to conduct an immediate follow up operation.

"Gadala-dala to sa iyang anak unya wala na maapsi kay kalit man gud kaayo unya nataligam-an," Gako told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.— Flor Z. Perolina,  Ria Mae Y. Booc with Melissa Q. Cabahug, Aron A. Rempohito, USJ-R MassComm Interns  (FREEMAN)