2 nabbed in Danao buy-bust; 5 caught at Tejero ‘drug den’

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged drug pusher and his suspected female cohort were arrested by the police in a buy-bust operation in Poblacion, Danao City yesterday midnight that led to the confiscation of more than P300,000 worth of shabu.

Arrested were Emmanuel “Boss” Buot, 46, and Leonilyn Cocal, 30, who both yielded several packs of shabu.

Police Officer 3 Nelson Pantoja of Danao City Police Station said they placed Buot under a weeklong surveillance after receiving reports of his alleged illegal drug trade.

After confirming Buot’s involvement in illegal drugs, the police coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and arranged the buy-bust operation.

At around midnight, operatives of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group left the station and headed towards J. Luna Extension where the suspect lives.

A poseur-buyer dealt with Buot and pretended to buy a pack of shabu worth P200 from the suspect. Buot was arrested as soon as he received the buy-bust money and handed over the drugs to the buyer.

He tried to fight but the police pinned him down and handcuffed him while the other operatives apprehended Cocal, who was then at Buot’s house.

The police frisked Buot and recovered from him three small packs and a medium pack of suspected shabu weighing 27 grams and amounting to P318,000.

Packs of shabu worth at least P5,000 were also reportedly confiscated from Cocal.

For the past two weeks, more than P1 million worth of shabu have reportedly been seized by Danao City Police Station and Provincial Intelligence Branch in the city.

Danao City Police Station has been identified by Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, director of Cebu Police Provincial Office, as one of the top performing police stations in the province in the campaign against illegal drugs.

 Arrested in Tejero

Meanwhile, five men were also arrested by the police in a house in Villagonzalo 2, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City Wednesday night.

Among those arrested by operatives of the City Intelligence Branch was Jaime Rodriguez, 52, the owner of the house that reportedly served as a drug den.

Also arrested were taxi driver Marvin Polloso, 38, of Compostela; bus conductor Avenser Pagobo, of Bogo City; bus dispatcher Marcus Cabucos, 41, of Daanbantayan; and one Frederick Go, 37, of Carcar City.

The four were reportedly caught having a “shabu session” inside Rodriguez’s house.

Inspector Gomersendo Mandawe of CIB said they conducted the raid after receiving information that a lot of taxicabs and other vehicles suspiciously park at a vacant area near Rodriguez’s house.

Mandawe said they conducted surveillance on Rodriguez and found out that the suspect, who lives alone, is a street pusher and to gain more customers, he would let them sniff shabu inside his house.

During the operation, the police were able to confiscate one medium and 50 small packs of suspected shabu that amounted to at least P59,000.

The suspects are now detained at the Cebu City Police Office detention cell and will be facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.  (FREEMAN)