4 nabbed, another escapes in raid

CEBU, Philippines - Separate anti-drugs operations in Lapu-Lapu City on Friday resulted to the confiscation of P650,000 worth of suspected illegal drugs and illegal firearms.

Police operatives seized an estimated half a million pesos worth of illegal drugs and illegal firearms from four persons during a raid early morning yesterday in Purok Bombshell, barangay Babag.

Armed with a search warrant signed by Judge Teresita Abarquez-Galanida of the RTC Branch 56 in Mandaue City, elements of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force Group led by Police Inspector Judith Besas conducted thorough search in the place of Aldrin Potot ,33, resident of the said area.

Potot is known to be a level 2 drug pusher in the area and has been a subject of several test buys after police were informed of his alleged illegal drug trade.

The operatives then raided the rented house of Potot who was arrested along with his wife, Farra, who is of legal age; Rey-ann Goyongon, 24; and Eduardo Macaya Jr., 28.

The four were arrested after the police were able to seize three big  packs of suspected shabu and another 43 small packs of the drugs with an estimated street value of P 472,000.

They also retrieved drug paraphernalia and cash amounting to P9,000 believed to be proceeds of their illegal drug trade.

The police were also able to seize a .38 cal. revolver, .99mm pistol , a KG rifle and several kinds of live ammunition and hand grenade from the suspects.

It was also known that a night before the raid, there was in birthday party in the couple's residence since it was the birthday of their eight-year-old son.

The couple has three children.

All four were in deep sleep when the raid took place.

Potot admitted he owned the drugs and the firearms. He said the KG rifle was just pawned to him by a friend but he denied owning the hand grenade.  He claimed police had taken his wife's money amounting to P57,000 as proceeds from her clothing business.

Police Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, officer-in-charge of Lapu-Lapu City Police, said the search was witnessed by a barangay councilor and that they believed that Potot's statements were just allegations.

All four arrested will be filed with appropriate charges. They are now detained at a holding cell of the LLCPO while the cases will be filed against them this coming Monday.

Meanwhile, a total of P177,000 worth of illegal substance was confiscated inside the house of a former employee of Lapu-Lapu City Hall in Sitio Beauty in the Sky, barangay Babag Dos by the RADSOTG Friday morning.

Inspector Joey Bicoy said the suspect was identified as Giovani Toring, 36, a resident of the barangay.

The search warrant was issued on August 13 by Honorable Torribio Quiwag, executive judge of RTC Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Bicoy said that they went to the house of Toring around 6:10 in the morning but the suspect was not there, only to find out that his wife Erma Dungog, along with her children, were left inside.

As they searched the whole house, the police recovered three medium packs of shabu with an estimated weight of 15 grams.

Bicoy said the suspect left the house probably because he knew he will be arrested.

Mayor Paz Radaza told the media that even if the suspect is no longer connected to the city, she will still verify Toring's records in her office.

She instructed Radoc to conduct follow-up investigation regarding the incident.

Radaza said employees who are about to exit with a valid reason in the office are obliged to surrender their identification cards.

Radaza added that regular and surprise check-ups among employees are a protocol in their office to check whether the employee is under the influence of drugs or not.

If one is positive for the substance, he or she is immediately fired from work since this are one of the grounds for termination.  (FREEMAN)