Seven fall in separate drug busts

CEBU, Philippines - Seven people were arrested while three others eluded arrest in separate anti-drug operations in eight municipalities of Cebu resulting in the confiscation of undetermined amount of illegal drugs and several firearms.

In Dumanjug, over P100,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized from the couple Eddie and Angelica Magudato. Members of the town police station raided the couple’s residence in Barangay Lawaan based on the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Leopoldo Cañete. 

The police recovered several packs of shabu, weighing scale, and caliber .38 revolver. The couple will be charged for violation of Section 11 and 12, Article 2 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions.

An alleged level two drug pusher, Cristito Batulan, and Jezreel Ciudad were also arrested in Barangay Talisay, Santa Fe town Friday evening during a buy-bust operation.

Two medium packs, and six small sachets of shabu as well as two packs of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized from them.

In another operation, Angelo Lapaz, 36, of Sitio Laray, Jugan, Consolacion was arrested Saturday morning with .38 ca-liber revolver and a pack of shabu.

Lapaz was accused of slapping his live-in partner, Charito Macabihag, and firing his gun prompting the police to respond.

Armando Andrino, 55, was also arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Ticad, Bantayan, Saturday morning.

An undercover policeman bought a pack of shabu from the suspect. The police subsequently raided his rented room based on the search warrant issued by the court resulting in the seizure of three more packs of shabu.

In Sibonga, police operatives arrested Randy Fernandez, 25, of Barangay Simala, after selling a pack of shabu to a police officer Saturday evening.

Two more packs of shabu were recovered from his possession when frisked following his arrest.

There were suspected drug personalities, however, who managed to elude arrest. Joselito “Lito” Beriarmente, of Sitio Campangog, Barangay Poblacion, Badian escaped from the police when raided Saturday morning.

The police were armed with a search warrant issued by the court. Several packs of shabu were seized from his house.

Edgar “Boy Poten” Potencioso Sr. likewise eluded arrest when members of the Tuburan Police Station raided his house in Barangay Bagasawe Saturday. The police were also armed with a search warrant from the court.

Several packs of shabu and marijuana were recovered during the operation.

In Tabuelan, police also failed to arrest Mario Mahusay during a raid in Barangay Mabunao. The law enforcers were armed with a search warrant issued by RTC Judge Ruben Altubar in Toledo City.

Mahusay allegedly fled even before the police arrived. There were, however, 14 packs of shabu and caliber .38 revolver recovered in his house.  (FREEMAN)