METROPOLICE: Drug bust nets duo in Lapu

CEBU, Philippines - Two men were arrested in a buy-bust operation Thursday evening in Lapu-Lapu City.

The pusher-buyer duo was busted by the Cebu Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group led by Senior Inspector Rogelio Pineda Jr. of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The suspects were identified as Roberto Sarsalejo, 50, of Lower Matumbo, Barangay Pusok and Marcelo Llanto, 45, a resident of Babag 2, Timpolok.

The drug duo, who can reportedly dispose illegal drugs of 150 grams a week, were caught red-handed at the heat of their transaction around 9:30 in the evening at Lower Matumbo, Pusok.

Authorities confiscated from Sarsalejo's possession a 9mm pistol and 9mm magazine loaded with live ammunitions, one small pack of suspected shabu, P2,800 cash believed to be proceeds of the transaction and a P200 bill used as marked money.

Two fake identification cards were also confiscated from Sarsalejo's possession.

Meanwhile, one small pack of illegal drugs and two large packs of illegal substance believed to have an estimated value of P48,000 were confiscated from level 3 drug pusher Llanto, who happens to be in the watch list of the police.

Pineda said based on their investigation, Sarsalejo was not found in the watchlist.

He added that Sarsalejo's possession of firearm will be subject for further investigation to know if the gun was licensed or not.

A period of three-day surveillance was conducted before the entrapment, police said.

The suspects were detained at LLCPO while the recovered pieces of evidence were keep in preparation for a complaint against Sarsalejo and Llanto in violation of R.A. 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act and RA 10591 known as Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions. (FREEMAN)