5 suspected drug pushers arrested in Cavite

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  – Police arrested five persons after more than one kilo of cocaine with an estimated street value of P7 million was seized from them during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Amaya 3, Tanza, Saturday night.

Chief Superintendent Rolando Añonuevo, Calabarzon police director, said Joel Morallos, alias Joel, 35; and Renato Evasco, 43; were first arrested after selling the one kilo of cocaine sealed and wrapped with packing tape marked “Paligro” to a poseur buyer, at around 10:45 p.m. Saturday.

The other suspects – Celis-tino Bongga, 37, Regie Picardal, 25, and Lolita Morallos, 32, were captured by the Cavite police force in a follow-up operation at the Morallos’ residence at Barangay Amaya 3, on Sunday.

Police seized from the three 420 grams more of cocaine estimated to be worth P2 million.

Añonuevo said the buy-bust operation was an offshoot of a month-long surveillance and a series of test-buy operations conducted by the assets of the Cavite police.

The cocaine was also part of the huge haul which coastal villagers in Samar found floating at sea last year, Añonuevo said.

He said on Thurday, they seized two kilos of cocaine worth P10 million during a buy-bust in Bacoor, Cavite which resulted to the arrest of a couple.

Añonuevo said in another operation in Cavite, the police arrested a family driver Arnold Alima after selling the one kilo of cocaine valued at P2.6 million to an agent who acted as poseur buyer, last month.       – With Arnell Ozaeta