Bigtime pusher killed as police seize P2M shabu

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged bigtime drug pusher died while eight people were arrested during an anti-drugs operation in Barangay Yati, Liloan town yesterday morning.

The police were reportedly forced to shoot Noel Codiñera, the subject of the buy-bust, when the latter pulled his .45 pistol out when he was arrested.

He was rushed to the Eversley Child Sanitarium in Mandaue City but did not make it to the hospital alive.

Prior to the shooting, a poseur-buyer managed to buy four small packets of shabu worth P1,000 from Codiñera.

Members of the Provincial Intelligence Branch then searched Codiñera’s house by virtue of a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Teresita Galanida.

They recovered shabu worth P2.1M, two KG9 pistols, two .45 pistols, a 5.56 pistol, assorted ammunition, a grenade, drug paraphernalia, and cash, which was kept in a vault reportedly buried under the stairs.

“Naa sa underground sa balay mura’g silong unya naa gilubong ilawom sa hagdanan,” said Sr. Inspector Leo Logroño, the team leader during the operation.

Logroño said Codiñera, a Level 2 drug pusher, is on PIB’s target list of drug personalities. Codiñera allegedly used to supply drugs to Liloan and its neighboring towns.

The eight people arrested also tried to flee but failed.

They were identified as Errel Limbohan, 34, from Mabolo, Cebu City; Jeffrey Compreras, 23, from Mandaue City; Rene Solon, 31, and Benjie Setinta, 32, both from Medellin town; and Dennis Tautho, 29, of Liloan town.

Also arrested were Jennelyn Catayas, of Mandaue City and Niña Ulohan and Edilyn Pepito, both from Liloan town.

All of them are of legal age and may be facig that it should not only consider the six-month target, but should be sustained as lifestyle since many events will come in the city.  (FREEMAN)