6 drug pushers, users fall in Misamis Occidental, Leyte

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested six suspected drug pushers and users during separate buy-bust operations in Southern Leyte and Misamis Occidental.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspects as Sergio Dublado, watch-listed drug personality, a JJ drug group member, 55, laborer, Sogod, Southern Leyte; Renato Roque, 33, a watch-listed drug personality, Brgy. Ospital, Aloran, Misamis Occidental; and Danny Patlingrao, 31, of Brgy. Digson, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental; Lolita Dela Cruz, 58; Johnny Dela Cruz, 37; Jeffrey Bautista, 20, vendor, all residents of Sitio Quirat, Brgy. Rizal, Santiago City, Isabela.

Belated reports from PDEA said that on April 10, around 10:30 a.m., elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 conducted a buy-bust operation in Sogod, Southern Leyte which led to the arrest of Dublado after he agreed to sell a sachet of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer.

Confiscated from Dublado were a rolled aluminum foil, a cellular phone and the P,1000 bill used as marked money.

Cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were filed against Dublado.

On the same day, at around 9:30 pm., joint elements of PDEA RO 10- Misamis Occidental-Provincial Special Enforcement Team, Provincial Special Operations Group-Police Provincial Police Office conducted a sting operation in Brgy. Ospital Aloran, Misamis Occidental that led to the arrest of Roque, and Patlingrao after the two sold two plastic sachets of suspected shabu.

Seized from Roque and Patlingrao were 10 plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, two rolled aluminum foils, five pieces of aluminum foil strips and the P100 bill used as buy-bust money during the operation.

The pieces of drug evidence were brought to the Misamis Occidental police crime laboratory for analysis.

Roque and Patlingrao are now temporarily detained at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office detention cell, while cases for violation of Sections 5, 11, and Section 12 (Possession of Equipment and Other Drug Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165 are being filed in court against them.

Meanwhile, last April 12, around 6 p.m., elements of PDEA RO2 stage a buy-bust operation in a suspected drug den at Sitio Quirat, Brgy. Rizal, Santiago City, Isabela that resulted in the arrest of the dela Cruzes and Bautista.

Confiscated from them were four pieces of plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia and the P1,000 bill used as marked money.

Lolita Dela Cruz was charged for violation of Sections 5, 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), 11, 12 and Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165.

Charges for violation of Sections 7 (Employees and Visitor of a Drug Den), 11, 12 and 15 are now being filed in court against Johnny Dela Cruz and Bautista.