Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has nabbed three persons, including a barangay councilor, during a buy bust operation in Leyte, the PDEA said on Wednesday.
PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspects as Japeth Abenoja, 36, barangay councilor residing in Barangay Tabuk, Hindang, Leyte; Michael Bantes, 40, of Barangay Balugo, Albuera, Leyte; and Ruel Orapa, 34, chef, of Poblacion 2, Hindang, Leyte.
Cacdac said the suspects were arrested by combined elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 after they sold more or less two grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, to a poseur-buyer in Barangay Tabok, Hindang, Leyte.Two hours after their arrests, a search warrant was issued by Executive Judge Alphinor Serrano, of branch 6, Tacloban City, ordering further search on Abenoja’s residence.
The search resulted in the confiscation of four pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu weighing 15 grams with an estimated value of P112,000 and P31,480, believed to be proceeds of their illegal drugs transactions.
Cacdac said Abenoja is a well known drug pusher who operates in the towns of Hilongos, Inupacan, Hindang Leyte and Baybay City. - Dennis Carcamo