Follow-up drug bust traps elusive ‘peddlers’

CEBU, Philippines - An anti-illegal drug operation failed to catch two elusive drug peddlers on Tuesday in Lapu-Lapu City.

But not yesterday.

Alleged cohorts Ronald Rota and Joevic Bayon finally fell to the hands of authorities during a buy-bust implemented just at the back of Lapu-Lapu City Public Market in Barangay Poblacion.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 swooped down on them after they allegedly sold two small sachets of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer in exchange for P400.

Together with the two targets, four men were also picked up by the police after they were caught reportedly sniffing shabu inside a room. The four were identified as Macario Japitan, Rey Bacus, Louide Alverio and Jomar Montano.

According to Senior Inspector Delfin Bontuyan, CIDG-7 chief investigator, Rota and Bayon were one of those who escaped during an earlier operation conducted by the Lapu-Lapu City Intelligence Branch on Tuesday night in Sitio Kamagong, Barangay Poblacion.

CIB’s operation led to the arrest of five men and the confiscation of several packs of suspected shabu.

“Mao ra man to silang kaubana. Nibalhin ra sila og lugar nga duol ra pud didto,” said Bontuyan.

He said even before the CIB’s operation, they had already been monitoring the two alleged Level 3 drug pushers for over a month.

During the operation yesterday, police seized from the subjects’ possession several illegal drug paraphernalia, one medium pack of suspected shabu and cash amounting to P1,800 believed to be the proceeds of their illegal business.

The four others who were caught having shabu session inside an abandoned room each yielded two small sachets of suspected shabu, police said.

Bontuyan said all confiscated drugs were valued at P118,000 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board.

The six suspects are now inside CIDG-7 cell and are set to face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.

Yesterday’s bust in Lapu-Lapu City was not CIDG-7’s lone operation against drugs this week.

On Thursday morning, the agency also arrested one of the alleged notorious illegal drug pushers in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City identified as Segundo Sabaldan Jr., 35.

Bontuyan shared that their surveillance and monitoring on Sabaldan lasted for three months because the latter was allegedly very elusive and cautious of his illegal activity.

One of Sabaldan’s ways to escape arrest, Bontuyan said, is sleeping at the attic of his house so he can check if policemen are coming. This allegedly made it harder for the police to raid the suspect’s house which is also located at an interior portion in the barangay.

It was the barangay captain who asked for police help as some residents have noticed that Sabaldan would always bring a firearm with him anywhere he goes in their place.

Bontuyan described the suspect as a known leader of the illegal drug pushers in the area.

Sabaldan was arrested after he allegedly negotiated with a police poseur buyer. Upon arrest, he reportedly yielded several packs of suspected shabu weighing around 30 grams what would likely amount to P354,000. Aside from illegal drugs, police also seized a .38 caliber revolver from him.

Early morning on Tuesday, seven persons, including a teenager, were also arrested after they were allegedly caught in the act having a shabu session inside a drug den in Sitio Kawit, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

Arrested were Julius Quiñola, 35, of Barangay Lorega; Ronaldo Estrella, 30, of Barangay Lahug; Dennis Barama, 40, of Barangay Guadalupe; Mario Bearcal, 36, of Compostela town, Cebu; Rowen Lawas, 31, of Barangay Pasil; Darwin Ngojo, 40, of Barangay T. Padilla and Ronel Inoc, 19, of Barangay Ermita.

Quiñola was identified as the caretaker of the drug den; however, the illegal drug pusher whose name policemen refused to divulge was not around during the arrest.

Senior Inspector Omar Bognot, chief of the Carbon Police Station, said the operation was done after a concerned citizen called their station to inform them of a group of men having a drug session in the area.

Bognot said after seven’s arrests, they are now trying to hunt down the illegal drug pusher owning the drug den.  (FREEMAN)